Coleraine Youth Academy 2 Northend United 2 Saturday 27th October 2012
The Blues travelled to Irish League Academy side, Coleraine, on Saturday, in what was a derby match for the young Northenders. They started strongly and took the lead on eight minutes when Stephen Hare slipped the ball past the Coleraine keeper after some good build up play from Keith Hall.
In a glorious opening spell for Northend, they should have further increased their lead when Stephen Hare again found himself clear of the Coleraine defence but his shot went narrowly past the Coleraine upright, with the keeper well beaten.
Next for Northend was an in-swinging corner which was only partially cleared and when the ball broke on the edge of the penalty box a fierce drive save the Coleraine keeper somehow tip the ball over the crossbar.
At this stage of the game, the Blues were totally dominating the game with James Cameron and Brian Etherson in dominating form in the Northend defence. On twenty-five minutes, Jamie Speirs burst through the defence and saw his shot cannon off the Coleraine upright, again with the keeper well beaten.
Five minutes before half time, Coleraine were awarded a free-kick twenty five yards out, and levelled the score when the resultant kick found its way unaided into the Northend nets. With no further scoring, the half time score remained 1-1
Coleraine started the second half more strongly and had Northend on the back foot in the opening exchanges. Gradually the Northend midfield of Jamie Speirs and Niall Swann came more into the game with Adam McLaverty and Lee Scroggie providing width down the wings.
Coleraine took the lead from another free kick, when Ross Swan in the Northend nets could only parry the ball and the Coleraine striker followed in and scored from the loose ball.
This goal was a wake up call for Northend and a tactical change, with Stephen Hare dropping back into midfield, saw Northend come more into the game. As Northend now took the game to Coleraine, a throw in found its way into the Coleraine penalty area and Stephen Hare was first to react to drive the ball past the Coleraine keeper, levelling the score at 2-2.
Instead of going on and finishing off the game, the Blues sat back and allowed the game to become bogged down in midfield. With James Cameron displaying a man of the match performance, the Blues saw the remainder of the game out to record a 2-2 draw with their neighbours.
This match was a harsh lesson for the Blues who must learn to kill off a game when they are on top.
Man of the Match: James Cameron
Panel: R Swan, M Laverty, J Cameron, B Etherson, C Lemon, S Hare, J Speirs, N Swann (c), R Gault, S Hare, K Hall, A McLaverty, L Scroggie, R Sloan
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Glendowan 1 Northend United 1 Saturday 13th October 2012
Northend travelled to Mallusk on Saturday to play old nemesis Glendowan and came away with a share of the points. Only a master class in goalkeeping from the Glendowan keeper prevented the Blues from comfortably taking all three points, in what is becoming the norm for the Blues, creating a lot of chances but not tucking them away.
Northend started the half the strongest and Keith Hall had a looping shot well saved by the Glendowan keeper, in the opening minutes. As the half wore on, Glendowan came more into the game and won a free kick twenty five yards out. From the kick the ball wasn't cleared by the Blues defence and the Glendowan striker scored, to give them a1-0 lead.
Northend continued to play their passing game with Shaun McGoran and Niall Swann in the thick of the action for the Blues. Jamie Speirs picked up the ball from a Connell lemon pass and saw his shot go inches wide of the post.
Jamie Speirs was proving to be a thorn in the Glendowan defence and saw the Glendowan keeper pull off a finger tip save from his rasping shot.
With the Blues starting to pull the strings in this game, Niall Swann went on a jinxing run at the Glendowan defence and saw his shot graze the crossbar, with the keeper well beaten.
Connell Lemon went on a good run down the Northend right wing and from his cross, the Glendowan keeper pulled off a point blank save from a Keith Hall piledriver of a shot.
However, Glendowan weathered the Northend pressure and began to mount their own attacks and from another high ball into the Northend box, Ross Swan pulled off a good save. For the remainder of the half, the Blues defence of Michael Laverty, James Cameron, Stephen Hare and Anthony McAvoy dealt comfortably with whatever Glendowan could throw at them. Half time score 1-0 to Glendowan
Northend brought on substitutes Eoin Crossan and Adam McLaverty at half time and this was almost an inspired substitution as McLaverty raced clear of the Glendowan defence, in the first few minutes of the second half, only to see the Glendowan keeper pull off another great save.
McLaverty was in fine form and from another cross into the Glendowan goalmouth, he somehow volleyed the ball narrowly over the crossbar.
Glendowan looked to get back in the game but found Anthony McAvoy and James Cameron in top form in the Blues defence.
As Northend mounted attack after attack, it looked like it wasn't going to be their day. However from a Jamie Speirs free kick, Captain Niall Swann was on hand to steer the ball past the Glendowan keeper to give the Blues a well deserved equaliser.
Northend weren't finished yet and Keith Hall out paced the Glendowan defence only to see the Glendowan keeper pull of another top class save.
The Blues thought they had scored the winner when Jamie Speirs lofted the ball over the Glendowan keeper only to see a defender get back and clear the ball off the goal line.
With time running out in the game, both teams shored up their defences and the match ended up a score draw 1-1.
Men of the Match: Anthony McAvoy, James Cameron
Panel: R Swan, M Laverty, J Cameron, S Hare, A McAvoy,, C Lemon, S McGoran, N Swann (c), L Scroggie, J Speirs, K Hall, A McLaverty, R Gault, C Heggarty, E Crossan, R Sloan
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Northend United 4 Sion Swifts 3 Saturday 6th October 2012
Northend started off this match in blistering fashion and took the game to Sion Swifts almost immediately. Shaun McGoran and Niall Swann were winning the midfield contest and Jamie Speirs and Keith Hall were stretching the Sion defence all over the place.
However as the half wore on, Sion Swifts mounted a number of attacks but found James Cameron and Stevie Hare at the heart of the Northend defence in dominant form.
Northend took the lead on fifteen minutes when a Speirs pass found Keith Hall and the big striker outpaced his marker and slid the ball past the Sion keeper. This was the break Northend were looking for and for the rest of the half, they laid siege to the Sion goal.
Keith Hall, who was in sparkling form, had the ball in the back of the net on eighteen minutes, after scoring from a Connell Lemon cross, only for the referee to adjudge it offside. Hall again was unlucky when the keeper pulled off another good point blank save to deny him another goal.
Northend kept up the pressure and from a corner, the ball was cleared off the line. It was one way traffic and Jamie Speirs beat his marker and slid the ball past the keeper only for a defender to clear the ball before it crossed the line.
From another corner, Shaun McGoran controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty box and his shot went inches over the cross bar. The chances kept coming and Niall Swann saw his header from a corner cleared off the goal line and Jamie Speirs had another shot blocked by the keeper.
On another day the Blues could have been seven goals up at this stage of the game but not today.
Keith Hall but the Blues 2-0 up on thirty minutes when he slid the ball past the keeper, following a defensive mix up.
Northend had the final say in the first half when they thundered another header off the crossbar following the final corner of the first half. Half time score 2-0 to Northend.
Northend brought on Eoin Crossan and Ciaran Heggarty for the second half and immediately took the game to Sion. Jamie Speirs saw a good run ending up in a shot which the keeper saved and Speirs fired the rebound inches wide of the upright.
Speirs was again unlucky when another shot was headed off the goal line with the keeper well beaten.
However, Northend were caught on the break and when a high ball into the Northend penalty box wasn't dealt with, the Sion striker skipped past a Northend defender and planted the ball past Ross Swan, in the Northend nets, leaving the score 2-1.
This was a wake up call for the Blues and just when it looked like Sion could get back into the game, Jamie Speirs went on one of his trademark runs at the Sion defence and when he crossed the ball into the Sion box, Keith Hall was on hand to smash the ball into the back of the Sion net to restore Northend's two goal lead.
Northend introduced Lee Scroggie, Adam McLaverty and Ryan Gault to the game and better was to follow for the Blues. Another attack down their left hand side saw the ball crossed to the back post when Ciaran Heggarty was on hand to smash the ball into the top corner of the net to give the Blues a 4-1 lead, with ten minutes of the match remaining.
With almost everyone going in search of goals, complacency set in to the Northend team and a late flurry from Sion saw them score two goals in the final minutes of the game, to leave the final score 4-3 to Northend.
Man of the Match: Keith Hall
Panel: R Swan, M Laverty, S Hare, J Cameron, A McAvoy, B Etherson, N Swann (c), S McGoran, C Lemon, K Hall, J Speirs, L Scroggie, A McLaverty, R Gault, C Heggarty, E Crossan, R Sloan
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Ballymena United 0 Northend United 2
Northend played League leaders and local neighbours Ballymena United at the Showgrounds on Saturday and turned in one of their best team performances this season.
Northend started this match full of determination and showed the league leaders no respect in the opening exchanges. With Speirs, McGoran and Etherson doing the pressing in midfield and Hall and McLaverty providing the pace down the wings, the Blues looked like a team on form. Captain Niall Swann was putting himself about up front, giving the Ballymena defence all sorts of problems.
As in the previous week, Hare and Cameron looked assured in the heart of the Northend defence.
Ballymena took the lead after twenty-five minutes of the game when a cross into the box saw at least five of the players in an offside position, and when Ross Swan pulled off a good save, the striker scored from the rebound. The young referee allowed the goal to stand, in what was the first of many one-sided decisions in this match.
However the young Blues didn't drop their heads and came right back at Ballymena. Niall Swann was unlucky just before half time, when he skipped past his marker only to see his final shot go wide of the Ballymena post. Half-time score 1-0
The second half saw both teams play some good football without troubling any keeper. Stephen Hare and James Cameron again looked composed at the heart of the Blues defence.
Northend should have drawn level when a good cross into the Ballymena box, saw Keith Hall head the ball over the bar. Northend kept up the pressure on the Ballymena defence but couldn't get the all important goal to get them back in the game. Lee Scroggie was giving the Blues width down their left wing.
However against the run of play, the Ballymena captain increased their lead when he latched onto a good throughball, turned the Northend defender and planted his shot into the bottom corner of the Northend net, giving Swan no chance.
Northend introduced Jonny Hanlon, Ciaran Heggarty and Ryan Gault up front and Thomas Brady at left back as they went chasing the game.
However as play got bogged down in midfield, Northend struggled to get back in the game. With only minutes of the game remaining a heavy tackle, resulted in Thomas Brady suffering a serious leg break in what was a demoralising end to the game for the Blues.
Man of the Match: Team Performance
Panel: R Swan, C Lemon, S Hare, J Cameron, A McAvoy, B Etherson, S McGoran, J Speirs, K Hall, N Swann (c), A McLaverty, R Gault, T Brady, M Laverty, C Heggarty, J Hanlon, L Scroggie, R Sloan
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Ballinamallard 2 Northend United 1 Saturday 22nd September 2012
Northend made the long trip to the Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen to play Irish League Academy side Ballinamallard and felt should have had a share of the points after a spirited second half display.
Northend started this match strongly and Connell Lemon gave them the lead after ten minutes, following some good build up play from Keith Hall and Adam McLaverty.
Indeed in the opening stage of the game, Northend should have increased their lead but Adam McLaverty was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line by a defender, with the keeper well beaten.
As the half wore on, Ballinamallard came more into the game but found Hanlon, Cameron, Hare and Brady in good form in the Northend defence, looking like they would concede nothing all match.
However, as in previous matches this season, the Blues suffered at the hands of bad refereeing decisions and from a throughball, the referee allowed three Ballinamallard players who were in an offside position to race through and slide the ball past Richard Sloan in the Northend nets, leaving the score at 1-1.
This goal allowed Ballinamallard back into the game and for the rest of the half they took the game to the Blues. Jamie Speirs and Niall Swan in the Northend midfield worked hard with Bryan Etherson and Connell Lemon closing down the Ballinamallard wide players.
With minutes to go until half time, Northend conceded a corner and from the cross the Blues defence allowed the ball to bobble around in the penalty area, without clearing it, and in the resultant melee, a Ballinamallard player stabbed the ball home to give the a 2-1 half time lead.
The Blues reorganised at half-time with Hare pushing into midfield and Swann dropping in at sweeper. The Blues again started the half strongly and some good play between Lemon and Speirs saw Speirs shot go narrowly wide of the post.
Jamie Speirs and Stevie Hare turned in a good second half performance in the Northend engine room and Speirs was again unlucky with another shot which the goalkeeper tipped over the bar.
With Lee Scroggie and Keith Hall providing width, the Blues looked a different team in the second half.
On the few occasions when Ballinamallard did threaten in the second half, Ross Swan dealt comfortably with whatever was thrown at him. With Eoin Crossan making his debut in the Northend rearguard, the Blues had a storming last twenty minutes of this half as they went for the equaliser.
Stevie Hare saw the keeper make another good save from his shot and with five minutes of the match remaining, Niall Swann went on a jinxing run which saw him being fouled on the edge of the Ballinamallard box. Jamie Speirs stepped up to take the free kick and as he lofted the ball towards the top corner of the Ballinamallard net, the goalkeeper pulled off a finger tip saw to push the ball over the bar, much to the dismay of the travelling Northend support.
In the final few minutes of the match, Keith Hall found himself with time in the Ballinamallard penalty box but he snatched at the ball and the chance went wide of the post.
For all their dominance in the second half, the Blues ended the match with nothing to show for it and must apply the lessons they learned today for the derby match against Ballymena United next week.
Man of the Match: Stephen Hare
Panel: R Swan, J Hanlon, S Hare, J Cameron , T Brady, B Etherson, J Speirs, N Swann (c), K Hall, A McLaverty, C Lemon, L Scroggie, E Crossan, A McAvoy, R Gault, R Sloan
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Northend United 4 Limavady United 2 Saturday 15th September 2012
Northend started off this match on the back foot and allowed Limavady to dictate play almost from the kick off. Indeed Limavady caught the Northend defence sleeping in the third minute and a cross from the Limavady left winger was touched past Swan in the Northend nets to give Limavady a 1-0 lead.
Worse was to come for Northend in a frantic opening period when a throughball from the Limavady midfielder again caught the Northend defence sleeping and the Limavady striker ran on to score their second goal, giving Ross Swan no chance in the Northend nets.
Gradually the Northend midfield came more into the game to give their defence some support and Speirs and McGoran began to win more of the ball.
However the Limavady defence was playing well giving Niall Swann and Keith Hall little time on the ball. It was going to take something special to get the Blues back in the game and Adam McLaverty provided the spark when from a good run down the Northend left wing, his pin point cross was touched into the net by Keith Hall, leaving the score 2-1.
Northend continued to press for the rest of the half but found the Limavady defence in top form. Half-time score 2-1 to Limavady.
If Northend started off the first half slowly, they made up for it in the second half with a commanding display. The half was only ten minutes old when Adam McLaverty was pulled down by a Limavady defender just inside their penalty box but the referee gave a free-kick against him, much to the dismay of the home fans.
Northend equalised mid-way through the half, when Niall Swann won the ball out on the wing and from his cross, Shaun McGoran timed his run into the box to slide the ball past the Limavady keeper.
Northend should have taken the lead when Lee Scroggie's right wing run and cross was touched onto the Limavady post by Adam McLaverty. It was all Northend at this stage of the game and from a knock-on from a Jamie Speirs header, Niall Swann found himself with only the keeper to beat but he mistimed his shot only to see it go narrowly wide.
Jamie Speirs was next to miss for Northend, when another header send him clear of the Limavady defence and again the poorly timed shot went wide of the post.
It looked as if it wasn't going to be Northend's day and this was further compounded when McGoran went close again for the Blues before Keith Hall went on a super overlapping run down the Northend right but his shot was well saved by the Limavady keeper.
Northend kept up the pressure and from a great throughball from Stephen Hare, Andy Thompson was unlucky, when his first time shot was pushed around the post by the Limavady keeper.
With five minutes of the match remaining, Northend's relentless pressure was rewarded, when McGoran's shot was handed on the line by a Limavady defender and the same player stepped up to steer the penalty past the keeper to give the Blues the lead for the first time in this match.
Limavady came storming back at the Blues in the last few minutes but found Stevie Hare having a good game in the centre of the Northend defence.
With minutes of the match remaining, Shaun McGoran made a break down the Northend left wing and his cross found Ciaran Heggarty in space in front of the Limavady defence and he showed the rest of his Northend team-mates how to do it, when he lifted the ball over the Limavady keeper and into the net, to leave the final score in this match 4-2 to Northend.
Man of the Match: Stephen Hare
Panel: R Swan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, B Etherson, L Scroggie, J Speirs, S McGoran, S Hare, K Hall, N Swann, A McLaverty, A McAvoy, R Gault, A Thompson, C Heggarty, T Brady, R Sloan
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Cookstown Youth 3 Northend United 0 Saturday 8th September 2012
Northend started off this match full of running and playing some good passing football With Stephen Hare, Jamie Speirs and Sean McGoran pulling the strings for the Blues.
However after ten minutes a long ball from the Cookstown midfield caught the Northend defence square and the Cookstown striker ran on and thumped his shot over Ross Swan in the Northend nets.
Northend were still playing good football and it only looked a matter of time before they would equalise. Keith hall was troubling the Cookstown defence with his pace and Niall Swann was wining some good balls for the Blues.
Cookstown persisted with the long ball game and from another throughball, their player was clearly yards offside but ran on to slide the ball into the Northend net to make the score 2-0 to Cookstown.
This goal clearly lifted the Cookstown team for the remainder of the half and Northend found it hard to get back into the game.
Ross Swan and Michael Laverty both collided with an attempted clearance and Laverty was forced to retire due to a heavy knock.
With no further opportunities, the score remained 2-0 to Cookstown at half time.
The second half started again with Northend playing some good football. However as the half wore on, Cookstown began to dominate the midfield battle. A number of Northend substitutions didn't give them anything extra and Cookstown went on to score another goal after their striker reacted the quickest in a goal mouth scramble.
The match ended up 3-0 to Cookstown
Panel: R Swan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, B Etherson, T Brady, J Cameron, J Speirs, S McGoran, S Hare, K Hall, N Swann, A McLaverty, A McAvoy, R Gault, A Thompson, C Heggarty, R Sloan
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Crusaders 2 Northend United 2 Saturday 1st September 2012
The Northend Blues kicked off life in the National League with a match against Irish League Academy side Crusaders on Saturday.
Right from the kick-off the Blues were well up for this match and in a blistering opening few minutes, the Crusaders defence cleared two shots that looked goal bound with Niall Swann and Keith Hall in rampant mood for the Northend Blues.
The Northend midfield of Shaun McGoran, James Cameron and Jamie Speirs were pulling the strings for the Blues and it wasn't long before Northend opened the scoring. Jamie Speirs went on a jinxing run down the Northend wing and from his cross, Niall Swann got a touch on the ball to steer it past the Crusaders keeper.
Crusaders came more into the game but found Bryan Etherson and Michael Laverty in top form in the middle of the Northend defence.
Northend further increased their lead when James Cameron won the ball for the Blues and lofted his cross into the Crusaders penalty area, only for a defender to partially clear and when the ball fell to Stephen Hare, his shot gave the Crusaders keeper no chance, leaving the score 2-0 to the Ballymena Boys.
With ten minutes of the first half still to play, it looked like Northend would further increase their lead but some good defending from Crusaders kept the Blues at bay and when it looked like Keith Hall would score a third for the Blues, the referee blew for half time, with minutes of the match still remaining. The half time score remained 2-0 to the Blues.
Northend introduced Adam McLaverty at half time for Michael Laverty and again started the second half strongly. However as the half wore on, Crusaders came more into the game but Jonny Hanlon and Thomas Brady were dealing with the Crusaders wingers and Ross Swan looked comfortable dealing with the Crusaders strikes from distance.
However some strange refereeing decisions began to creep into the game, but Northend looked composed on the ball and looked like they would see the match out and take all the points.
A throughball from the Crusaders midfielder left their striker ahead of the Northend defence but a good save from Ross Swan was adjudged to have been a foul on the Crusaders striker and the referee awarded a penalty. The Crusaders striker blasted the ball over the bar but the referee inexplicably ordered the kick to be taken again and on the second attempt another Crusaders player scored, leaving the score 2-1.
Northend brought on Anthony McAvoy for the injured Etherson and with some good play began to wind down the clock. Northend again took the match to the Crues and from a McLaverty throughball, Keith Hall outpaced the Crues defence but their keeper pulled of a good save.
With the referee playing three minutes injury time, Northend conceded a corner in the third minute and when the cross came in, the Northend defence didn't deal with it and the Crusaders striker headed the ball past Swan to level the score at 2-2, much to the delight of the Crues fans.
This was a harsh lesson for the Northend boys but one that they will learn from. Next week, Northend travel to play Cookstown Youth in their second away match of the season.
Man of the Match: Ross Swan
Panel: R Swan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, B Etherson, T Brady, J Cameron, J Speirs, S McGoran, S Hare, K Hall, N Swann, A McLaverty, A McAvoy, C Heggarty, R Sloan
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Northend United 1 Glentoran 2 Friendly Friday 24th August 2012
The Northend Blues entertained Glentoran to the Showgrounds on Friday night in their penultimate warm-up fixture before season kick off next Saturday when they travel to Mallusk to play Armagh City.
Manager Glenn Speirs had a full panel of eighteen to pick from in what was an entertaining game for the large crowd that turned up to watch.
Starting with a change of formation, it took the Blues a while to find their rhythm but gradually Jamie Speirs and Shaun McGoran began to stamp their authority on the game. Indeed McGoran was unlucky to see a shot of his strike the Glentoran upright before being cleared to safety in a frantic opening spell.
Play flowed from end to end with some excellent play from both sides but as the half wore on the Blues should have taken the lead when Keith Hall could have scored from close range.
However this miss would prove costly as the Northend forward line failed to hold the ball up, allowing the Glentoran defence to get the upper hand.
Glentoran took the lead after twenty minutes when their striker skipped past the Northend defence and a good shot beat Richard Sloan in the Northend nets to give the Glens a 1-0 lead.
Glentoran increased their lead ten minutes later when a shot from the edge of the box hit the Northend post and trickled out, only for the Glentoran striker to score into an empty net, with the Northend defence and keeper standing watching. The score remained the same until half time.
Northend brought on seven substitutes at half time to give their large panel a good run out. In another change of formation, Niall Swann reverted to centre-forward, partnered by Andy Thompson. It wasn't long before Swann made his presence felt and in the goal of the game, he coolly lobbed the ball over the Glentoran defender and then chipped the ball over the Glentoran keeper to get the Blues back in the game , leaving the score 2-1.
The Blues gave a spirited second half performance, with their defence of McAvoy, Brady, Laverty and Swan giving nothing away.
Brady and Gault were combining well down the Northend left hand side, with the Blues playing their best football of the match in the second half.
Indeed Scroggie and McAvoy were giving the Glens some headaches down the Northend right hand side.
Shaun McGoran was unlucky not to equalise when after a good run when he skipped past two Glentoran players he saw the Glens keeper tip his shot narrowly over the bar.
However the Blues kept pressing with some dangerous balls into the box from Brady but nobody was able to get on the end of them. Try as they might, The Blues couldn't get another goal and the match ended up 2-1 to Glentoran at the final whistle.
There was a number of good performances in this game, especially in the second half with the midfield combination of Speirs and McGoran again looking impressive.
Men of the Match: Jamie Speirs, Shaun McGoran
Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, J Cameron, B Etherson, N Swann, J Speirs, S McGoran, S Hare, C Heggarty, K Hall, A McLaverty, A McAvoy, L Scroggie, R Gault, T Brady, M Laverty, A Thompson, R Swan
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Northend United 3 Greenisland Boys 1 Friendly Friday 17th August 2012
The Blues entertained Greenisland Boys in their first home friendly of the season at the Showgrounds on Friday night. Right from the kick-off the Blues took the game to Greenisland with a super team performance in which their midfield of Speirs, McGoran, Swann and Heggarty were pulling all the strings.
McLaverty and Hall were linking up well and McLaverty had the first chance, when he fired his shot narrowly past the post. As Northend played their passing game, Niall Swann and Jonny Hanlon on the overlap were causing the Greenisland defence all sorts of problems down the Northend right wing.
Keith Hall should have opened the scoring when he just failed to connect with the ball after a super cross from Swann. The opening goal came after twelve minutes when a visionary pass from Speirs found Swann on the wing and his cross was hammered past the Greenisland keeper by the ever alert Keith Hall.
Northend should have extended their lead on a number of occasions but the final ball let them down.
Greenisland drew level in the half when a moment of hesitation in the Northend defence allowed the Greenisland striker to race clear and slip his shot past Richard Sloan in the Northend net. Greenisland had a good spell at this point in the game and Sloan pulled off a great save to keep the score level at 1-1.
However it wasn't long before the Blues got back in the game and McLaverty again went close with a good shot before Keith Hall scored his second goal of the match after running on to a great throughball from Sean McGoran, leaving the score 2-1 to Northend.
The Blues could have further increased their lead in the first half but some good saves from the Greenisland keeper from Heggarty's and Speirs shots kept the half time score to 2-1 to Northend.
The Blues made six substitutions at half time and again started the half strongly. Ryan Gault had a good header well saved by the Greenisland keeper before Jamie Speirs extended Northend's lead when he burst through the middle of the park and unleashed a shot from twenty-five yards, which the keeper could only parry and Speirs followed up to plant the rebound into the corner of the net.
Greenisland came more into the game as Northend sat back and defended their lead for the rest of the game. The Northend defence of Scroggie, Swan, Cameron and McAvoy turned in a solid performance to keep the Greenisland strikers at bay as the match ended up a 3-1 win for Northend.
This was another good team performance from the Blues with some notable performances from Jamie Speirs, Sean McGoran and Niall Swann.
Man of the Match: Team Performance
Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, T Brady, M Laverty, J Cameron, N Swann, J Speirs, S McGoran, K Hall, A McLaverty, C Heggarty, L Scroggie, R Gault, A McAvoy, R Swan, S Hare, A Thompson
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Coagh United 2 Northend United 8 Friendly Wednesday 15th August 2012
Northend travelled to Coagh on Wednesday night to play the local Mid-Ulster Youth League team at their excellent Sports Arena. The Blues took a large panel of players, with everyone getting a good run out in this friendly match.
The Blues had a slow start to the game and Coagh took the lead when a free-kick thundered past Richard Sloan in the Northend nets. This was the wake-up call Northend needed and Keith Hall went close on a number of occasions before he was hauled down in the Coagh box for a penalty kick. The same player dusted himself down and fired home the spot kick to level the score at 1-1.
Goal number two followed shortly afterwards when Hall turned provider for Andy Thompson, making his Northend debut, to beat the keeper with a good shot from Hall's well timed cross.
Northend scored their third when Adam McLaverty, also making his Northend debut, fired past the keeper from Stephen Hare's cross. The same player score Northend's fourth goal when he again slide the ball past the Coagh keeper after picking up Thompson's cross. Half-time score 4-1 to Northend.
Northend brought on all six substitutes at half time and went on to score another four goals in the second half. Sean McGoran scored goal number five when he raced through the middle of the park and rounded the keeper to slide the ball into the net. The same player scored his second and Northend's sixth when he volleyed the ball home from a McLaverty cross.
Coagh came more into the game at this stage and scored a good goal when stand-in keeper Stephen Hare missed his attempted clearance.
Ryan Gault scored number seven from a corner, when he placed his header beyond the reach of the Coagh keeper.
With Jamie Speirs pulling the strings in midfield at this stage of the game, the same player was unlucky on two occasions when his shots went narrowly over the Coagh crossbar.
In a final flurry, Adam McLaverty scored his hat-trick and Northend's eight of the night, to leave the final score 8-2 to the Ballymena Boys.
This was another good team performance from the Blues with some good performances from McLaverty, McGoran, Hegarty and Thompson who were making their debuts in a Northend shirt.
Man of the Match: Team Performance
Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, T Brady, A McAvoy, R Swan, N Swann, J Cameron, S Hare, A Thompson, K Hall, A McLaverty, M Laverty, L Scroggie, S McGoran, C Hegarty, J Speirs, R Gault
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Larne Youth 1 Northend United 0 Friendly Wednesday 8th August 2012
The Northend Blues travelled to Larne's impressive Seacourt Complex on Wednesday night, for the first of this year's pre-season friendlies. The Blues, although missing regulars Bryan Etherson and Stephen Hare, took a large panel of players with them, giving everyone a good runout on the night.
The large crowd of spectators from both sides were treated to a great game of football played in some exhausting conditions.
The match, played in three sections, started with the Blues in control of the game with their trademark passing and move game. The midfield trio of Brady, Speirs and Swann were pulling the strings at this stage of the match.
Keith hall was full of running for the Blues and went close with a chance in this first section, only to see his shot go narrowly wide. Thomas Brady was next to test the Larne keeper when his dipping shot went narrowly over the crossbar. Played flowed from end to end but no team were able to take the lead in this evenly contested match.
The second section started with both teams starting to make a number of substitutions and this helped to open up the game. In a section full of action, Larne took the lead when a harmless ball into the Northend box was misjudged by a Blues defender and the Larne striker had the simplest task of scoring from five yards.
Northend should have drew level minutes later when a high ball into the Larne box resulted in the Blues having two different chances to score, with Larne getting bodies to block both attempts.
As Northend took the game to Larne, they were awarded a free-kick thirty yards out. Dead ball specialist, Benny O'Neill crashed his shot against the Larne upright with the keeper well beaten, only to see the loose ball get cleared to safety.
Larne now took the game to Northend but the defence of Hanlon, Laverty, O'Neill and McAvoy dealt comfortably with whatever Larne threw at them.
The third section started with yet more substitutions from both teams. Play in this section got bogged down in midfield, with both sets of defences giving nothing away in the final twenty-five minutes of the match. The match ended with a 1-0 win for Larne but gives the Northend Manager, Glenn Speirs, a lot of encouragement for the season ahead.
This was another good team performance from the Blues with O'Neill, Hanlon and Laverty in top form.
Man of the Match: Team Performance
Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, B O'Neill, R Swan, N Swann, J Speirs, T Brady, C Lemon, K Hall, L Scroggie, R Gault, A McAvoy, N Shannon,, J Cameron, J Millar
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Lisburn Distillery 3 Northend United 2 Friendly Saturday 11th August
The Northend Blues travelled to Victoria Park in East Belfast on Saturday to play Irish League Academy side, Lisburn Distillery, in their second pre-season match.
With a changed side from midweek, the Blues started off brightly with some excellent midfield play from Speirs, Swann, Scroggie and Lemon.
The Blues failed to capitalise on their early domination and allowed Distillery to take the lead in the match when a defensive error allowed their striker in to score.
Distillery further increased their lead when another lapse in concentration in the make-shift Northend defence allowed their striker to score.
Northend came more into the game with Keith Hall causing the Distillery defence some problems but it was James Cameron who scored for Northend when he volleyed home from a tight angle after a great run past two Distillery defenders.
Northend began to pile on the pressure and from a series of corners; Niall Swann was hauled down twice in the Distillery box only for the referee to wave play on. This erratic refereeing continued for most of the match, much to the dismay of the Ballymena Boys.
Distillery scored their third goal of the match just before half time, when from a long throw in their striker rose unchallenged in a group of Northend defenders and gave Richard Sloan, in the Northend nets no chance with his header.
With some tactical changes, Northend started off the second half in top gear and began to take the game to Distillery. Keith Hall went close with a shot before Niall Swann scored a good goal for the Blues, when his shot deceived the Distillery keeper, leaving the score 3-2.
Ryan Gault replaced Lee Scroggie who had taken a heavy challenge which had again gone unnoticed by the referee.
Play flowed from end to end in the match with both keepers kept busy from some good attacking play on both sides. Jordan Millar replaced Hanlon for the final fifteen minutes of the match.
With minutes of the match remaining, the Blues won a series of corners but some good defending from Distillery saw the match end in a win for the Irish League Academy side.
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Man of the Match: Jamie Speirs
Panel: R Sloan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, R Swan, T Brady, N Swann, J Speirs, C Lemon, K Hall, L Scroggie, J Cameron, R Gault, J Millar
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