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Northend United 4 St Patricks 0 Saturday 22nd February 2025

Today saw the Pizza Parlour 2009 Utd team have a trip to the Valley leisure centre to play a very good outfit in St. Pat’s on a beautiful springlike morning. Northend put in a performance to match the weather progressing to the semi-final of the Premier Cup.

Northend began the game quickly closing down St. Pat’s sharply and keeping them stuck in their own half. The blues had a few sighters early on but nothing to trouble the St. Pat’s keeper. Northend settled in to the game the better and started to play a bit of football, the football resulted in the first real chance of the game, falling to McGarel. Kian found himself with a yard of space, after a drop of the shoulder and fired on goal only for the ball to crash off the cross bar. Defensively Northend we’re on point, winning every first and second ball and were excellently marshalled by Drysdale who had the big St. Pats forward in his pocket. The first goal of the game for Northend fell to McQueen. Brilliant pressing from McGarel forced the keeper into a miss kick, the ball fell to McQueen, took his touch brilliantly and with great finesse lobbed the keeper and put Northend one up. The game continued into the end of the first half with Northend on the front foot but nothing to trouble or able to capitalise and as the whistle sounded the blues confidently finished the half in front. Half Time 1-0

The second half began with Northend on the back foot with St. Pat’s trying to get back into the game. St. Pat’s had got in a few times behind the Northend’s defence only for the presence of Lavelle to remain big and keep the ball out of the blues net. This gave Northend the spark to pick their game up. McQueen picked up a kick out from Lavelle, shimmied past two St. Pat’s players and played an exquisite outside of the foot pass splitting the Pat’s defence and on to the running McGarel. Kian drove forward and smashed the ball into the net to put the blues two up and give a little day light between them and St. Pat’s. The third for Northend came quickly, again it was McQueen to capitalise. A shot from outside the box by McArdle could only be parried by the Pat’s keeper and McQueen was there for the tap in. 3-0. The blues didn’t let up and were unlucky not to get a fourth, it was a similar to the third, McGarel’s shot was again parried and McErlean followed up but was deemed to be offside. Northend’s midfield kept the blues pushing forward, winning their battles well and not giving Pat’s a single chance to get into the game. The fourth soon appeared for Northend, it was a fantastic touch from McQueen who took the ball on his check flicking into the path of McGarel who with a first time shot smashed an absolute banger into the top left corner and sent the blues in to wild celebrations knowing that all but killed the game off. McQueen had a free kick just whistle over the bar late on and moments later the final whistle wen. Full Time 4-0

It was a game of grit and determination that won this for the blues and credit to each and every one of them got the result they deserved, sending them into the semi-final of the cup. A rightly deserved POTM performance from McQueen, scoring two and assisting two. What a performance Josh, very well done!

Ballymena Pizza Parlour Player of the Match: Josh McQueen

Panel: Conor Lavelle, Ethan Drysdale, Adrian Pekala, Callum Higgins, Kian O‘Neill, Scott Kerr, Eoin Lavelle (c), Lucas Barnett, Sam McArdle, Daniel McErlean, Kian McGarel, Josh McQueen

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Northend United 2 Knockbreda Academy 2 Saturday 8th February 2025

The U16s Ballymena Pizza Parlour sponsored United team had a trip this week to Mallusk to take on Knockbreda.

Northend started the game brightly and on the front foot from the start, their fight and desire had returned to their game and had Knockbreda on the back foot. A few early half chances were created but came to little avail. The defence of Northend were comfortable and composed from the off not allowing Knockbreda any opportunities to get a shot away. The first real opening of the game was for Northend, their fight and ball was played out from Lavelle to O’Neill. He neatly passed through the Knockbreda midfield to E. Lavelle and with his first touch slid a fantastic ball through to the on running McGarel, his first touch got him away from the defender and smashed home from 18 yards to put the blues 1 up. The rest of the first have remained much the same, Northend remained dominant, McErlean was holding the ball up top well allowing time for Northend to get numbers forward but the boys could only create a few half chances and the half finished 1 up to the Blues. Half Time 1-0

Smart thinking from the KO almost paid off, McGarel saw the keeper off his line and from the KO almost caught the Knockbreda keeper out only for the wind to come to his aid. Northend had found a good rhythm and the football was slick causing Knockbreda constant problems. Young Martin on the right was playing some great link up play with the team and gave the Knockbreda left back a hard time throughout. Barnett on the left was working hard and it was his link up with McGarel that created the second opportunity of the game. A quick ball into the feet of McGarel who was marshalled tightly from the defender, who came straight through the back of McGarel inside the box and a penalty was given. It was McGarel himself who stepped up and neatly sent the keeper the wrong way to put the Blues 2-0 up.

Northend’s defence up to this point had been solid, the back three of the O’Neill brothers and Pekala and just in front of that Drysdale took everything in their stride. Knockbreda however were far from out of the game and their first chance got them back into the game. A long throw into the blues box was hit first time and flew into the back of the net, catching the blues by total surprise. 2-1 and game on. Knockbreda had lifted their game and just started to put Northend on the back foot, but again not creating any real chances. McArdle and Lavelle continued to dominate midfield and kept Knockbreda to very little going forward. As time ticked away Knockbreda’s fight intensified and it wasn’t too much longer that their second goal arrived. This one had a little luck, what seemed to be a cross from the right hand side of the attack looped right over Lavelle and into the net 2-2 with five minutes to play. Northend rolled the sleeves up and pushed again and where harshly done by not to receive a second penalty of the game, again it was a challenge on McGarel and again the defender coming right through him, the referee was having none of it and waved the appeals away. The blues fought right to the last whistle and sadly it wasn’t to be. Full Time 2-2

A massive shout out must go to the two Colts players who stepped up to play for the United team today and put on a brilliant display with young Paudie Martin getting POTM. Well done to all the boys

Ballymena Pizza Parlour sponsored Player of the Match: Paudie Martin

Panel: Conor Lavelle, Hubert Pekala, Kian O‘ Neill, Eoin Lavelle (c), Daniel McErlean, Sam McArdle, Lucas Barnett, Kian McGarel, Ethan Drysdale, Josh McQueen, Callum O’Neill, Adrian Pekala, Paudie Martin, Kane McNeill

Northend United 0 Aquinas 4 Saturday 1st February 2025

Another match where the Blues didn’t do themselves justice with the final score not a true reflection of the overall match. Managers Darren McAllister and Gary O’Neill will be disappointed with the overall score but know the Blues can give a better performance than that on show in this match. Full time 0-4

Panel: Conor Lavelle, Hubert Pekala, Scott Kerr, Kian O‘ Neill, Eoin Lavelle (c), Daniel McErlean, Sam McArdle, Lucas Barnett, Kian McGarel, Daniel McErlean, Josh McQueen, , Shea McFerran, Ben Duncan, Ethan Drysdale

Northend United 1 Willowbank 1 Saturday 18th January 2025

The first game after the festive season for the Pizza Parlour sponsored 2009 Utd team against second in the league Willowbank. Northend started brightly and had a few early sighters from McGarel who called the keeper into action. The blues continued to press Willowbank and again it was McGarel who got in from a good through ball only for the keeper to make another fine save and keep the game level. Defensively Northend were in control, not giving Willowbank any chance to get through and keeping Northend pressing forward. Another clear opportunity was created again the ball was slid in behind the Willowbank defence from Barnett, McGarel again getting in behind and again it was the Willowbank keeper who won the duel with another great save, it was beginning to look like one of those days for the boys and before long Willowbank got their first chance on goal. Kerr was in a duel with the Willowbank forward and a coming together of feet was deemed a penalty for Willowbank. Up stepped the forward only for Conor Lavelle to guess correctly and keep the scores level. The game continued in and around the Willowbank half but came to an end of the half with both teams level. Half time 0-0

Into the second half we went and it was Willowbank who started this half the better, getting into and around the Northend box and applying a lot of pressure on the blues. Several corners in succession for Willowbank finally saw an opening, as the corner was cleared Northend where slow to get out and as the ball was played in toward the back post Willowbank had two free men standing to which the left winger calmly nodded the ball into the net and put Willowbank one up . Credit to the blues this only encouraged them to be more attacking and the blue wave of pressure began again , Northend went to a front three and it nearly paid off early when McQueen broke free down the left got in behind with two runners in behind , unluckily for him the Willowbank defender was able to get a foot in and prevent the cross ball, Northend remained calm and kept trying to play football , one passage of play starting from the goalkeeper to four passes on the right nearly resulted in a goal only for some good last ditch defending from Willowbank . Willowbank had the next chance, this time from a free kick a long ball played in toward the back post was headed toward goal only for Kerr to clear off the line the rebound came back toward goal and Kerr again scrambled the ball off the line and keep the scoreline to one. Northend reacted and again it was the hands of the Willowbank keeper who came to the rescue, this time a wonderfully struck shot from 25 yards from Barnett was deflected which took a little pace off the ball but as the player and sideline began to celebrate which looked a cert goal was somehow saved and put out for a corner. Finally, the equaliser came, a well committed strong header on the halfway line from Barnett went forward and was flicked on from Lavelle went through the Willowbank defence, McGarel latched on to the ball and slotted neatly into the net to make it 1-1 with time left to play. The game remained a battle in the midfield with both teams trying to carve an opening, it was Northend who got a clear chance with minutes to go, McGarel was through as he beat the defender was hacked down to cries from the sideline the referee waved play on much to the dismay of the travelling support. Willowbank finished the game with a corner kick but as it was cleared and Northend broke the final whistle blew and a very good game finished 1-1. A very well done to all the boys today for a great performance, special shout out to Scott Kerr who takes POTM for his fantastic performance covering every blade of grass across the back line and making some very critical tackles. Full time 1-1

Ballymena Pizza Parlour Man of the Match: Scott Kerr

Panel: Conor Lavelle, Hubert Pekala, Scott Kerr, Kian O‘ Neill, Eoin Lavelle (c), Daniel McErlean, Sam McArdle, Adrian Pekala, Josh McQueen, Joey Griffin, Kian McGarel, Ethan Drysdale, Lucas Barnett, Shea McFerran