Northend Colts 2 Andersonstown Community Hawks 4   Saturday 27th April 2024

The Wee Blues took the opportunity to give their large squad of players a good run out in the final match of the season. Although trailing by 4-2, the management team of Ian Smyth and Brian McDonald are well please with a good first season in the Lisburn Youth League, stepping up from the Harry Gregg Youth League in the previous season.

Panel: Jacob Moore, Jamie McCann, Fraser O’Kane, Cathal Doherty (c), Cian McDonald, Oscar McGlone, Harrison Smyth, Max Zaporpwicz, Throne Davids, Maxim Kostolny, Jason Archer, Ronan Ward, James Mullan, Dara O’Broin, Nathaniel Mackle

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Northend Colts 1 Andersonstown Community Colts 0   Saturday 13th April 2024

Northend Colts went up against the only unbeaten team in this section of the league this week. Knowing that this is the benchmark of how we as a team have developed over the course of the season. After the last few weeks of disappointing and unfortunate results the boys were right up for this match knowing that the win would put them back in pole position. Northend started the brighter side, showing that what had been working on in training was being executed on the pitch. The passing, communication and organisation of the group was a delight to witness and unrecognisable from the week before.

Although a relatively quiet first half for Jamie the Goalkeeper he was cool and collected when called upon, reading the game and shadowing the ball out of play. For the three at the back, communication was key as Andersonstown were always looking like a threat going forward. Nathaniel, Frazer and Cian defended all that came in their direction while having the confidence to play out from the back. The midfield was just something else in this game, the 4 boys were all over the park. Oscar, James Harrison and the steam train Cathal, defended like lions not giving the Andersonstown boys an inch. The boys had great moments of position, showing off skills, making passes, but most importantly giving it their all.

Upfront we started with Maksymillian who was a constant threat, reading the game and working his socks off as the only striker.  It was from this selfless play Maks found the on running Cathal who showed no hesitation firing the ball goal wards with a good strike and beating the opposing goalkeeper. Half time 1-0

In the second half it was much of the same, where the lads did not lose concentration for a second. A few changes saw Throne replace Maksymillian up top and Jacob called into action when replacing Jamie. Throne showed his pace on more than one occasion when he went on the counter attack and was unlucky not to be on the score sheet when a beautiful dead ball cross was delivered via Oscar only to drift inches wide. Jacob also played an important part with two great saves and a goal line clearance which managed to keep the Northend team in front.

A number of changes came when we released Ronan, Dara and Jason. The 3 boys provided the team with the fresh legs required in this game to get over the line and send the boys to the top of the pyramid. Their work rate was key to us holding onto the lead in the later stages. And on a number of occasions we surprised the Andersonstown team by creating more opportunities where Dara, Jason and Ronan were unlucky not to score.

Towards the final whistle the game took a turn with Andersonstown putting continued pressure on the back 4, but when you show the attitude the guys showed today nothing was going past them. Today us oldies got to see the meaning of teamwork when our kids just did something that for me was truly fantastic. Full time 1-0

Player of the Match: Cathal Doherty - An unbelievable performance which had everything from the first whistle to the last. Cathal was the driving force behind the victory today he won every ball, never stopped running and finally hit the back of the net with that long awaited Goal

Panel: Jacob Moore, Frazer O’Kane, Nathaniel Mackle, Cathal Doherty, Max Zaporpwicz, Jamie McCann, Oscar McGlone, James Mullan, Harrison Smyth, Cian Mc Donald (c), Dara O’Broin, Throne Davids, Ronan Ward, Jason Archer

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Northend Colts 1 Colin Valley Colts 2   Saturday 23rd March 2024

The Blues went into this cup semi-final match on the back of some really good recent results.

However, the young Blues just came up short in this three goal thriller of a match. They went looking for an equaliser in the last minutes of the game but just couldn’t find a way past a well organised Colin Valley side. Full time 1-2

Panel: Jacob Moore, Fraser O’Kane, Nathaniel Mackle, Cian McDonald, Oscar McGlone, James Mullan, Harrison Smyth, Jason Archer, Maxim Kostolny, Jamie McCann, Ronan Ward, Max Zaporpwicz, Throne Davids

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Northend Colts 2 Oxford Sunnyside Tornados 1   Friday 15th March 2024

Friday night cup action under the flood lights for the boys this week!! It was a bit of a risk because it’s such a big/long pitch but we went with the 2 at the back instead of 3 to try to put the pressure on Oxford with having an extra attacker. 

With Fraser and Nathaniel we knew we were in good hands. The pair of them worked so hard to keep Oxford out and Jacob delt with anything else that managed to get through, including a couple of tricky corner scenarios. Unfortunately, Fraser took a bad knock midway through and had to come off, but Jamie took his place and was brilliant for the rest of the game.

Oscar did his usual shift in front of them covering every bit of his own half to break attacks down. On the wings, Throne and Cian worked tirelessly up and down both sides to provide support in attack and defence, which was a massive job on this big pitch without a defender behind them. On the attack we had James in behind Maxim and Jason. Maxim and Jason probed and probed and worked incredibly hard, but the Oxford defence stood strong. 

Finally the breakthrough came, Jason was on the ball on the edge of Oxfords box, under pressure from several defenders he was strong enough, brave enough and good enough to hold onto the ball and find James who smashed the ball into the net in his trademark style. Cue the celebrations, 1-0 to Northend. Half time 1-0

Max comes on for Jason in the 2nd half to go upfront with his mate Maxim, the dream team in attack now! The second half continues like the 1st, both teams going at each other again. This time Oxford get on the scoresheet, 1-1.

After this it was a performance of grit and massive, massive heart from Northend. The boys were disciplined, organising each other, talking more than I’ve ever heard and lifting each other. Tackles and blocks were met with cheers and encouragement. Ronan came on for Throne who ran himself into the ground. Ronan continues where Throne left off, working nonstop. Max and Maxim were so dangerous and tricky on counter attacks, Oxford were struggling massively to deal with them.  Backed by Cian and Ronan, we were starting to pin Oxford back. Attack after attack. 

Then a couple of minutes from the final whistle, the main man of the day, James, unleashes another thunderbolt into the back of the net. What a strike. Chaotic celebrations follow, but they quickly calm each other down to concentrate on the game.  The final whistle soon follows and the game ends 2-1 to Northend!

This was a performance to be proud of. Each player from the squad worked harder than I’ve ever seen. The talking and encouragement was impressive and each of them backed up their teammates. Any one of them could have been player of the match tonight. However, it has to go to tonight’s captain James, he played some great football, helped out in defence and scored 2 great goals.  Full time 2-1

Panel: Jacob Moore, Fraser O’Kane, Nathaniel Mackle, Throne Davids, Cian McDonald, Oscar McGlone, James Mullan, Jason Archer, Maxim Kostolny, Jamie McCann, Ronan Ward, Max Zaporpwicz

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Northend Colts 1 Lisburn Rovers Jets 0   Saturday 9th March 2024

The Colts landed in Lisburn this morning in high spirits and numbers and with the last 2 games ending in victory the team was determined to keep the good run going.

A new formation was introduced today after it proved successful in training. Instead of the traditional 3-2-3, we instructed the guys to play a 2-1-2-1-2. With the midfield dominating the forward players pressing high and the defence stuck together like glue, Northend were in control from the first whistle. Great passing opened up the Lisburn team on numerous occasions, great runs from the front men Cathal and Maxim saw them make more opportunities only to be denied by what was a fantastic performance by the Lisburn keeper. Somehow the two teams came in 0-0 at the break. Half time 0-0

A number of changes at half time saw the lads continue in the same vein as in the 1st. It was Northend who continued to take the game to the opposing side. It wasn’t long until the goal came. A goalkeeper kick out saw Harrison pick out his partner in crime Cian. The long ball saw Cian through on goal but with still plenty to do. A great first touch to gain control of the football and direct dibbling seen Cian face the impressive Lisburn keeper one on one. Cian left the young keeper with no chance as he cooly tucked the ball neatly under the on coming keeper, 1-0 to Northend

Northend continued to show they had been the better team as they kept the ball in the Lisburn half for the majority of the game. Another brilliant performance by Colts today and one where we saw a different style to their play. This being the first time we have used this formation it was extraordinary how they managed the game. Well done boys the hard work during the week showed today. Team captain today was Max, who has had a number of good performance over the last month in matches and also training. Well done Max keep it going. Full time 1-0

Player of the Match: Nathaniel Mackle - A dominating display at the back. Well done Nathaniel, you played terrific today and should be proud of that performance

Panel: Jacob Moore, Fraser O’Kane, Nathaniel Mackle, Max Zaporpwicz, Cian McDonald, Oscar McGlone, James Mullan, Harrison Smyth, Ronan Ward, Throne Davids, Dara O’Broin, Jamie McCann

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