Antrim Rovers Swifts 1 Northend United 5   Friday 13th December 2024

The Macaulay Wray sponsored under 18s continued their fine form this season with a dominant 5-1 win over Antrim Rovers Swifts.

With Northend always on the front foot it took until the 19th minute before the wee blues could get past the Antrim rearguard with Doherty picking up on a stray kick out to lob the Antrim keeper from 20 yards out. Doherty continued several minutes later with a fine finish at the back post. Half time 0-2

With Fyfe coming on for Campbell the Northend attack continued to drive forward on the search for further goals and this arrived soon after the restart with McIlhatton completing a fine finish into the near corner. The Northend defence camped on the halfway line allow the industrious Stephens to drive forward from the wing back position to create numerous opportunities for Loughran, Doherty and Fyfe however it wasn't until a fine solo run by Fyfe who finished with aplomb. Further chances fell for Loughran who crashed the crossbar. Antrim got a consolation when a lapse in concentration allowed the rovers player to slide one under Stewarts legs however Northend did get their 5th when McIlhatton got his double with a fine finish. An excellent display from Northend from start to finish. The rear guard of Stewart, O’Donnell, Neeson, McKay and Stephens were in control from start to finish. The midfield of McKee, Mahon, McIlhatton, Campbell and Fyfe proved industrious all evening whilst attack options of Doherty and Loughran just proved too hot to handle. Extremely difficult to pick a Plater of the match however, Stephens, Neeson, McIlhatton and Doherty deserve special mention from an otherwise excellent team performance. Full time 1-5

Panel:  Jack Stewart, Michael O’Donnell, Feargal McKay, Rory Neeson, James McMahon, Ryan Stephens, Charlie McIlhatton, Alfie McKee, Andrew Napier, Ger McFadden, Aaron Doherty, Harry Fyfe, Luke Campbell, Conor Loughran

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Northend United 3 Dromara Village Colts 1   Friday 29th November 2024

The Macaulay Wray sponsored U18s went into this game missing five regulars but the inclusion of four of the U17s bolstered the squad and ensured three points against a determined Dromara Village Colts on Friday night at the Bone.

The Northend lads came close to scoring in the first minute as Doherty showed great skill beating two defenders and playing Napier through on goal but McNeill produced an excellent save.  There was little sign of the blues being disjointed as they moved the ball around at pace with McKee and Doherty going close.  On 9 minutes a corner on the right saw Stephens header turned away by McNeill but Charlie McIlhatton was on hand to hammer home from six yards. 

Dromara struggled to get any grip on the game as McIlhatton and McMahon dominated the midfield exchanges with the back four sharp and strong in the tackle.   On 19 minutes Doherty and Napier opened up the Dormara defence again with Doherty’s 20-yard effort rattling the crossbar.  The second goal was coming and it arrived in style as McKee beat two players on the right and a third almost on the end line before driving home to the bottom corner from an acute angle.   The introduction of Patterson and Laverty gave Dromara further headaches with both going close, Pattersons fine run and 25-yard effort hitting the woodwork. Half time 0-0

The second half saw the blues ease back a little but still maintain a level of control with Doherty and Napier testing McNeil in the Dormara goal.  Despite dominating possession the blues failed to capitalise and on 53 minutes Martin fired home a superb effort from 30 yards to give Dromara a lifeline.  In a hectic 10 minutes the blues could have been out of sight as Doherty, Napier and Conrad McIlhatton were denied by the Dromara keeper.  On 60 minutes Patterson ran at the heart of the Dromara defence leaving three white shirts in his wake only to see his shot go narrowly wide.   On 66 minutes Conrad McIlhatton showed good strength beating two defenders with the third resulting to Gladiator tactics to halt his progress.   From the resulting free kick Stephens effort was parried by McNeill and it was McMahon who reacted quickest to fire home from 6 yards. In the closing stages the industrious Conrad McIlhatton came close to scoring with a fantastic volley from 18 yards only to again see McNeill produce a superb save.

This was an entertaining game that saw the blues go joint top of the table and continue their fine run of form.  The back four were solid throughout with stand-in centre-half Butler showing composure and class alongside the excellent Neeson.  In midfield McIlhatton (Ch.) and McKee were dominant with Patterson and Laverty playing their part when called upon.   The front two of Napier and Doherty worked tirelessly and looked like they had always been a front pairing.  There were several candidates for POTM but it’s difficult to look past Doherty who gave a classy performance from start to finish.   Special mention to the young Dromara keeper McNeill a last-minute call up from the 09s who kept his side in the game with a string of outstanding saves. Full time 3-1

Panel:  Jack Stewart, Michael O’Donnell, Rory Neeson, Shea Butler, Ryan Stephens, Alfie McKee, James McMahon, Charlie McIlhatton, Conrad McIlhatton, Aaron, Doherty, Andrew Napier, Jack, Patterson, Luca Laverty

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Northend United 4 Rosario Colts 0   Friday 1st November 2024

The Macaulay Wray sponsored 07s returned to winning ways with a strong performance against Rosario Colts on Friday night at the excellent Marrowbone Millenium Park (The Bone).

With fireworks lighting up the North Belfast sky for most of the opening half hour, it was the Northend lads who started brightly with McKee having an early effort saved by the excellent Kearney in the Rosario goal.  On 4 minutes Charlie McIlhatton switched play to the left wing where McKee beat his man and cut inside only to be upended unceremoniously by the next defender he met.  Neeson, with a 100% record from the spot this season, overcooked his effort and dragged it wide of the post. 

The miss gave Rosario a lift and they began to play with a bit more confidence but struggled to get through a Northend defence where McKay and Neeson were in top form. For 20 minutes the blues dominated possession, but the end product was lacking, O’Donnell tore down the right wing on a couple of occasions setting up chances for Campbell and both McIlhatton lads but the goal wouldn’t come.   The introduction of Storrie added a new focal point up top and on 33 minutes the big striker cut in from the right and found the top corner from 25 yards. Half time 1-0

The second half was only a minute old when McLaughlin tied two defenders in knots and slipped the ball through to Charlie McIlhatton, with still a bit to do the midfielder beat a defender and cooly slotted home from 8 yards.  This goal settled the Northend lads as they started to move the ball around with confidence creating chances at will.  On 40 minutes McKay played a superb pass to Napier on the left wing, his first touch took him away from the defender only to see his effort canon off the outside of the post.  In a rare foray forward Nixon found space behind the blues defence, but Stewart produced a top class save low to his right. 

On 47 minutes Charlie McIlhatton played a neat one two with McLaughlin on the edge of the box, the little man with the magic feet danced around two defenders and forced a good save from Kearney but McLaughlin reacted quickest to make no mistake from 6 yards.  The third goal killed the game as a contest as the blues camped in the Rosario half for the remainder of the game, on 58 minutes it was four as Campbell outpaced the centre half and fired home from 12 yards, to make it four goals in four games despite a below par personal performance. 

This was an excellent team performance and the perfect response to the poor showing last week,  the second half in particular was very pleasing and a joy to watch.  The defence were solid with Neeson and McKay showing their worth as a central pairing, in the middle of the park Charlie McIlhatton, McFadden and McLaughlin were dominant with Napier and McKee giving bite down the flanks.  Storrie who had stepped up from the u17s proved a real handful working tirelessly, grabbing a goal and linking up play for those around him.    POTM was a tough one but edging it were two midfielders who showed determination, vison and skill that proved to be the difference on the night. Full time 4-0

Panel:  Jack Stewart, Michael O’Donnell, Feargal McKay, Rory Neeson, Ryan Stephens, Alfie McKee, Charlie McIlhatton, Diego McLaughlin, Ger McFadden, Conrad McIlhatton, Luke Campbell, Andrew Napier, Jude Storrie

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