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

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

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