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Northend United 2 Ards Academy 1 Sanday 23rd February 2025

On Sunday the boys were up against a big and physical Ards Academy 2008 team for the first time this season at Grove pitches. In terrible conditions on a heavy pitch for the first time this season we had a full strength squad. From the off they went at the Ards Academy and quickly went into a 1-0 lead after 90 secs when a strike from Aaron found the net. The boys continued to play and threaten with any chances Ards Academy had defended well by Aodhán and Shay Butler. Half time 1-0

Chances at HT saw the introduction of Jude, Pauric and Anto in the team and it was Ards Academy who would quickly equaliser when the ball was cleared allowing them to smartly finish by Alex. The boys re-grouped and took the lead again when fine work by Pauric allowed Aaron to run through before smartly finishing. Further chances were created to finish the game but a mixture of poor finishing and the Ards Academy keeper kept them in the game. This gave Ards Academy hope and some individual saves from Alex kept the score at 2-1. Full time 2-1

Panel: Alex Crawford, Wiktor Wronski, Shea McConnell, Jack Patterson, Aaron Doherty, Ryan McClintock, Ross Bamber Shay Butler, Aodhan McGarry, Shane McAuley, Odhran Duffin, Pauric Redmond, Jude Storrie, Anto Cochrane and Andrzej Smolinksi

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Northend United 5 Knockbreda Academy 4 Saturday 15th February 2025

On Saturday the boys were up against a big and physical Knockbreda team for the first time this season at Grove pitches and quickly went into a 1-0 lead after 90 secs after fine work down the wing by Shane saw Kian’s attempt saved well by the keeper only for the ball to fall to Ryan who smashed home. More chances followed but we didn’t convert due to good keeping and defending. Knockbreda equalised after we failed to defend a longball and a switch of play found their striker who finished well. We continued to attack and where the better team playing some great football however, we were caught out again with a long ball and their forward finished well. We didn’t stop and after fine work we won a corner which Ryan scored direct from after the keeper parried into his net. We continued to push and play great football while Knockbreda also had moments but were reliant on long balls. We won a free kick on the semi-circle which Shea took and played a great ball in for Aaron to head us in to lead. 3-2 half time. Half time 3-2

The 2nd half started in similar style with us playing the better football and Aaron who didn’t stop all day played a fine ball across the box for Shane to tap in 4-2. We made subs at that point which disrupted the flow of the game, and they got a 3rd after a fine solo goal where their winger beat his man twice and finished well. They equalised through deflected shot soon after 4-4 with 10 minutes left heads could have gone down with each team pushing and on the counter-attack, we got our winner with Aaron playing Ryan through who saw his first attempt saved but scored on his 2nd - hattrick for Ryan. Knockbreda pushed but we defended well and saw out the game. Full time 5-4

Panel: Alex Crawford, Wiktor Wronski, Shea McConnell, Jack Patterson, Aaron Doherty, Ryan McClintock, Ross Bamber Shane McAuley, Shay Butler, Aodhan McGarry, Kian McGarel, Eoin Lavelle, Conor Lavelle

Northend United 0 Ballymoney United 5 Saturday 8th February 2025

On Saturday a depleted U17 side got a home game in Ballymena against Ballymoney at the Showgrounds.

The first half saw some nice passages of football but the Ballymoney keeper was in fine form stopping at chances created. However, it would be Ballymoney who would take the lead going into half time after the player was untracked into the box to smartly finish by Alex in nets. Half time 0-1

The second half started brightly but once Ballymoney got their second, heads dropped and ran out comfortable winners. Special mention to the returning Niko and Ross after injury got some game time. Full time 0-5

Panel: Alex Crawford, Wiktor Wronski, Shea McConnell, Jack Patterson, Aaron Doherty, Ryan McClintock, Matthew Leetch, Travis Corke, Ross Bamber Shay Butler, Anto Cochrane, Niko Byczek and Aodhan McGarry

Northend United 6 St Marys 0 Friday 17th January 2025

The U17s played their first league match since mid-November, it was great to field a near full strength team against a much changed St Mary’s team.

The first half was one for the boys the cobwebs off with a scrappy affair taking place although keenly fought. The boys went in 1 up thanks to a Pauric penalty. Half time 1-0

The second half saw their new player Anto Cochrane enter for his debut and within five mins he had put us two up followed quickly by his second, three up and we were in total control and rarely troubled.

Anto got his hattrick from the spot after a clear foul in the box. The fifth came from Aaron who tapped in after fine work from Anto and Jack scored the six from just inside the box, again with an assist from Anto. Great to be back and all the boys stepped up to perform. Full time 6-0

Panel: Alex Crawford, Wiktor Wronski, Shea McConnell, Jack Patterson, Aaron Doherty, Ryan McClintock, Shane McAuley, Shay Butler, Jude Storrie, Odhran Duffin, Anto Cochrane, Pauric Redmond