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Northend United 0 TTBS 1 Saturday 22nd May 2021

This was an all or nothing encounter with three teams from Group 1 looking to qualify for the Cup competition. Northend need to win this game by a score-line of plus two and started the game with real purpose. The blues pushed TTBS back into their own half for the opening ten minutes but couldn’t find an opening. The Ballymena boys’ midfield and defence were in control of the game and were frustrated by the cross-bar when Connor McKenna ran onto a through ball from Kai Barr and chipped his effort over the keeper. With five minutes remaining in the half a Jack Adams through ball sent Owen Campbell through on goal and the young strikers effort was well saved by the keeper, Jack McIlhatton was the first to react to the loose ball and was unlucky to see his first time shot flash narrowly past the upright. Half-time 0-0

TTBS responded to Northend’s grip on the game in the early part of the half, however the back four of Crawford, Magill, Adams and Neill were well up to the task. The midfield of O’Boyle, McKenna, Mitchell and Barr gradually regained control of the game and tested the TTBS keeper with efforts from Campbell, Kennedy and O’Boyle. The blues were playing some great football and deserved so much from the game, however a very soft penalty with welve minutes remaining came as a body blow. The initial penalty was saved by Sam McDowell and he was inches away from smothering the loose ball before a TTBS player bundled it over the line. Northend changed to playing with three at the back and entrenched TTBS in their box for the remainder of the game. Several chances came and went and the boys stretched TTBS to the final whistle. Full-time 0-1

On another day and with a little slice of luck Northend could have walked away with the result they needed. That said, the boys played some great football throughout and to their credit they gave everything right up to the final whistle. They now go into the draw for the last eight of the Mid Ulster knock-out shield.

Panel: S McDowell, S Crawford, C Neill, J Adams, D Magill, P O’Boyle, T Mitchell, O Campbell, K Barr, J McIlhatton, C Kennedy, A Bell.

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Dungannon Youth 4 Northend United 1 Saturday 15th May 2021

This was the second week of group fixtures in the Mid-Ulster Summer Cup and it is going to go down to the wire in Group 1 where both of these sides and one other are still in contention for the top spot. Dungannon were arguable quicker into their stride and it took a goal line clearance from David Magill to keep his side level after ten minutes. Northend started to press Dungannon back by the mid-point of the half, a Tyrone Mitchell’s effort went narrowly wide during a strong period of play and Northend also had a very strong call for a penalty waved away. The Blues best chance of the half came with five minutes remaining when Caomihin Kennedy broke through on goal and forced a good save from the Dungannon keeper. With seconds left on the clock Dungannon edged ahead with a well take free-kick from twenty yards. Half-time 1-0

Both sides produced some good football in the second period, although there was always a slight physical edge to the game. Sam McDowell was in outstanding from for the Ballymena boys and was on hand to make two notable saves at the beginning of the half. Northend pressed forward and Owen Campbell was unlucky not to bring his side level with a sharp turn and shot in the area. Dungannon killed the game off during the middle period with two well taken goals and put the game beyond doubt with a fourth ten minutes from time. Although this score-line was flattering in term of the balance of play, Northend did pull one back when Kai Barr curled a beauty into the far top corner from the left side of the box. Full time 4-1

All to play for next week when Northend face Pat McGibbon’s TTBS in the final round of games.

Panel: S McDowell, S Crawford, C Neill, J Adams, D Magill, P O’Boyle, T Mitchell, C Neill, O Campbell, K Barr, C Kennedy, A Bell

Northend United 3 Craigavon City 1 Saturday 8th may 2021

This was the 2004s first competitive outing since 7th March 2020 and the boys wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game with Owen Campbell pouncing upon a mistake in the Craigavon defence to put the Blues ahead in the opening minute. The Ballymena boys were looking very comfortable in possession and doubled their lead after six minutes when Kai Bar split the defence with a ball into the path of Jack McIlhatton and the young striker marked his return to the 2004s squad by slotting the ball beyond the Craigavon keepers. The Blues continued to control the game, the midfield was dominating play and the and the defence were rock solid throughout. Minutes before half-time Northend went three up when Campbell again pounced onto a loose ball in the box and smashed his effort into the net. Half-time 3-0

The second half continued in much the same pattern as the first, with Northend well in control of the game. Caomihin Kennedy forced a brilliant reflex save from the keeper and Jack McIlhatton made a jinking run which deserved a goal, however his effort was deflected onto the crossbar. Craigavon managed to pull a goal back and Sam McDowell made an excellent save in the final minute to deny the visitors. All in all, a good performance and it is great to see the boys back in action. Full-time 3-1

Panel: S McDowell, S Crawford, A Bell, J Adams, D Magill, P O’Boyle, T Mitchell, C Neill, O Campbell, K Barr, J McIlhatton, C Kennedy