Untitled

Northend United 4 Ballymena United 3 Saturday 27th May 2023

Northend started this game on the back foot with initial pressure coming from Ballymena. The Blues absorbed this early pressure and after 5 minutes, started to play. Marco Smyth and Caitlin Kelly in the middle of the park were combining well in terms of keeping possession and moving the ball. Northend had the first chance in the match when a move down the right-wing lead to a great cross from Callum Abernethy in to Oisin Gordon, who played some amazing football just to keep possession for such a small player to use his body against two bigger defenders and got a shot off but the Ballymena keeper pushed it wide of the upright. Caitlin Kelly put in a great corner but Ballymena cleared. This released their speedy winger but Oliver McBurney who was covering for the corner was there to clean up and played it back to Lughan Hardy to clear it. Northend took the lead in the game when from another Kelly corner, Oisin Gordon was on hand to steer the ball into the Ballymena net.

Northend were in control at this point in the game and Caitlin Kelly put a through ball to Callum who was strong and was able to ride a tackle to get a shot off. Northend further increased their lead, when after some good play between Joshua Dillon and Caitlin Kelly lead to a a great cross for Kane McNeill who was coming in from the left who smashed the ball into the net 2-0

After this, as Northend got too relaxed, Ballymena played a nice ball through which split the Blues defence and Ballymena got on the end of it for a goal 2-1

The half was almost up when Caitlin Kelly played in Kane McNeill who chipped the keeper to make it 3-1 half time. Half time 3-1

The second half was end-to-end play with some great chances. Ronan Maguire who was dominant in the middle of the Blues defence, made some great tackles and cleaned up loose balls but a long ball and a speedy striker got the better of the Northend defence and Ballymena scored. 3-2

Ballymena were now in the ascendency, so Northend reshuffled their formation to counteract the longball game. This change paid dividends for Northend when a pass from Joseph O’Hara played in Oliver McBurney, who took a touch and smashed the back of the net 4-2

The match was on the blow when Ballymena got their 3rd goal when their striker got a head to a cross to give Lughan Hardy no chance in the Blues nets. Full time 4-3

Player of the Match: Callum Abernethy

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, J Dillon, C Kelly, M Smyth, O Gordon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, C Smyth, E Meija

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Northend United 3 Lisburn Rovers 1 Saturday 29th April 2023

Northend started the match on the front foot and straight away a diagonal ball from Joseph O’Hara set up Oliver McBurney who put it over the bar. It was tightly controlled from then on down the wing, playing in Caitlin Kelly who got past her marker and played in Kane McNeill but keeper was alert and got there first. The Blues had control of the game and deliberately slowed everything down until we were ready the attacked fast we had a lot of chances in the first half Marco Smyth played in Callum Abernathy who played in Caitlin Kelly who had a great shot pushed wide. From the corner Caitlin put in perfect for Callum to head it past the goalkeeper 1-0. With time running out in the half, the Blues held their composure to go into half time with the one goal lead. Half time 1-0

Into the second half and Northend again started on the front foot with Cara McKay coming on for Kane McNeill who is a different type of player forcing them to put two on her. She got her goal in the end after battling past one the a quick one two past the next and gave the keeper no chance 2-0

We were on in control at this point and Lisburn made a few changes that gave them a few chance on goal but lughan hardy was in great form with a couple of great saves and one world class save that got a clap form everyone watching. We got back into the game and played some great football Marco was picked the pass releasing players and chances were stacking up it was Oisin Gordon that got a brilliant shot saved and the cleared away Marco met it and volleyed it straight into the top corner from 25 yards 3-0

We had a chance almost straight away with Cara winning it from the kick off the playing in Marco who was fouled bad two footed the ref had words and then or free. Joseph hit it in and keeper got a hand to it rolling out to Cara smashed it first time but hit or player and the ref blew for offside.

We conceded a late goal from a long throw and a short that Lughan Hardy saved but went up in the defence couldn’t see it and Lisburn got a toe to it Lughan who was on the ground got a hand to it but still crossed the line before Joseph O’Hara cleared it.

We had a brilliant game and the back line were excellent talking to everyone in front and Lughan talking to them.Full time 3-1

Player of the Match: Joseph O’Hara

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, S Scullin, C Kelly, M Smyth, J Dillon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, C Abernethy, R O’Hagan, C Smyth, C McKay, O Gordon

Northend United 3 Ballymacash Rangers 2 Saturday 22nd April 2023

Northend started on the front foot and a long ball over the top gave Oliver McBurney a chance but was brought down in the Ballymacash penalty box but the referee waived play on.

The Blues were on top from the start with good link up play and energy all round. In the early exchanges the Blues had a great chance for Kane McNeil which was just wide and also for Oisin Gordon, who was looking dangerous. After 10 minutes Ballymacash got into the game and gave Northend keeper, Riley O’Hagan, a long shot which he dealt with superbly. Ballymacash had a few more chances but stand-in keeper Riley had an excellent performance in the first half. The deadlock was broken when Joseph O’Hara went past his man the rode a second tackle and seeing the keeper off his line, had a shot from 35 yards into the top corner 1-0

The second came a couple minutes later when some good teamwork down the right from Oliver McBurney and Ronan Maguire, played in Shea Scullin who laid it of for Marco Smyth. As he turned his man and shot, it looked like keeper had it covered before Kane McNeill got a toe to it to deflect it past the Ballymacash keeper. 2-0 It was all Northend for the rest of the half but just couldn’t get the finishing right. Half time 2-0

The Blues started the second half on the back foot and when a long ball out wide was deflected into the Northend net, when crossed from the wing.

The Blues found it hard to settle and shortly after, Ballymacash had a long-range effort saved by Riley O’Hagan, pushing it wide for a corner. When the ball was crossed into the Northend box, there was no marking and Ballymacash scored a second with a free header.

Northend eventually found their feet in this half and a ball from Joseph O’Hara wide to Callum Abernathy, who jinxed past his marker and crossed the ball into the Ballymacash box, where Kane McNeill was on target to score his second of the game to give the Blues a 3-2 lead. Northend defended resolutely for the remainder of this half to come away with another 3 points in what was an end-to-end game. Full time 3-2

Player of the Match: Oliver McBurney

Panel: R O’Hagan, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, S Scullin, C Smyth, O Gordon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, J Dillon, E Meija, M Smyth, C Abernethy, I Maguire

Northend United 4 Hillsborough Boys Jets 1 Saturday 15th April 2023

Northend started this match on the front foot with Kane McNeill getting a shot off to test the keeper. Play flowed from end to end for about 5 minutes until Northend settled in a new formation which meant midfield doing a lot of work. The Blues were in control for the next 5 minutes with chance after chance. We got a free on the left edge of the box Joseph O’Hara hit it nicely towards the bottom corner but no one followed it in. The Hillsborough keeper launched a long ball over the Northend defence, allowing their striker a one on one with the Blues keeper, which was duly scored. The Blues put this behind them and immediately went upfield with Caitlin Kelly crossing to Kane McNeill, who made no mistake to score and pull the Blues level in the match.

It was all Northend at this point in the game but the talented Blues were unable to add to their total. Half time 1-1

Into the second half and with a change of formation, reverting back to 343, the Blues got an early corner, which when crossed, went into the Hillsborough net off one of their defenders

The Blues were very much in control at this point and the combination of short passing led to a couple of chances and a goal was coming. It finally came from a Caitlin Kelly corner the same as the previous one everything perfect this time it was Callum Abernathy showed some aggression to get his foot on the ball 3-1.

Northend added a fourth goal with some good play down the middle, with Shea Scullin and Marco Smyth linking up, then releasing Caitlin Kelly who went past her marker and slipped the ball it into the bottom corner 4-1.

That’s now the match ended, which was brilliant for the coaching team to see the things we were working on in training work so well on the pitch. Full time 4-1

Player of the Match: Caitlin Kelly

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, S Scullin, C Kelly, M Smyth, C McKay, O Gordon, K McNeill, J Dillon, C AbernethyR O’Hagan, C Smyth

Northend United 4 Ballymacash Rangers 1 Saturday 1st April 2023

Northend off to a strong start with pressure from Caitlin Kelly and Cara McKay closing down the Ballymacash defence and winning a throw. This was a hard game in poor conditions but Riley O’Hagan made the most out of a Caitlin Kelly corner, when Ballymacash didn’t clear the ball and Riley put it away to open the scoring. 1-0

After the restart, Northend tried to play the ball about a bit more with Oliver McBurney and Kane McNeill finding space on the wings. The second goal came from a freekick outside the box when Riley was brought down and Caitlin Kelly planted the ball in the top corner. The Blues continued their good play and had a few more chances from Marco Smyth hitting the post from distance and Oliver McBurney saw the Ballymacash keeper make a good save from his thunderous volley. Half time 2-0

Northend started the second half playing better football, nice sharp passing and moved the ball well. However, we conceded from a long range shot that Lughan Hardy should have stopped. Heads didn’t drop and Northend restored their 2 goal advantage when Oliver McBurney and the keeper were chasing down a ball, with Oliver just nicking it and it rolling into an empty net. 3-1 it was all Northend from then on and Northend scored a 4th goal, following some good play on their left wing and switching the ball to McBurney on the right, who hammered home from close range. Full time 4-1

Player of the Match: Oliver McBurney

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, S Scullin, C Kelly, M Smyth, C McKay, C O’Neill, K McNeill, R O’Hagan, C Smyth

Northend United 2 Hillsborough Boys Jets 1 Saturday 25th March 2023

The Blues kicked off and a long ball by Joseph O’Hara played in Cara McKay for her first chance of the game. From the resulting goal kick, Marco Smith won the ball and played it out wide and this gave Kane McNeil the room to run at the Hillsborough defence but was cleared for a corner.

From the resultant kick, Kane put the ball in and Callum O’Neill got his head on it but just wide. It was even for the rest of the half and the Blues defence dealt with everything Hillsborough had to offer. Joseph O’Hara had to be replaced mid-way through the half, which resulted in some chances to the Blues formation. Hillsborough had a chance, but Lughan Hardy, in the Blues nets, was quick to react and the sent a long ball to Cara McKay, who reacted quickly and planted the ball past the Hillsborough keeper to give Northend the lead.

From the restart Joshua Dillon won it back and sent Oliver McBurney on his way down the right wing and whose shot from distance was narrowly over the bar. Half time 1-0

Northend started the second half on the back foot and got caught with a defensive error to allow Hillsborough to draw level in the game.

Northend made a few changes and fixed their shape only for Callum O’Neill to get fouled and had to come off. All the changes didn’t stop the Blues playing football and some good passing between Oliver McBurney and Oisin Gordon, saw Oisin plant the ball into the bottom corner of the Hillsborough net to give Northend the lead again in this match. With time running out, Northend held on for a good win, against a top footballing team. Full time 2-1

Player of the Match: Ronan Maguire

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, R Maguire, J O’Hara, M Smyth, C McKay, J Dillon, O Gordon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, C Abernethy, R O’Hagan, C Smyth

Northend United 1 Anderstown Community 0 Saturday 18th March 2023

Northend U13s had a weakened panel for this match but still started the match on the front foot. Good play from Northend in midfield was creating chances for their strikers. When the ball was drilled across the Anderstown penalty box, one of their defenders deflected the ball into his own net, to give Northend the lead. Half time 1-0

Into the second half and the Blues kept pushing the Anderstown goal to further increase their lead, with a few chances just going wide. However, the Anderstown defence stood firm and no further goals were scored. Full time 1-0

Panel: L Hardy, O McBurney, J O’Hara, R O’Hagan, C Kelly, M Smyth, C McKay, O Gordon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, C Abernethy

Lisburn Distillery 1 Northend United 0 Saturday 3th March 2023

The Blues got off to a strong start in this match. A long ball over the top of the Distillery defence from Joseph O’Hara saw Oisin Gordon get his first chance of the match. He glided past a Distillery defender and their keeper came out of the box and apprehended him, but the ball broke to Kane McNeill and with the referee playing advantage, unfortunately Kane put the ball over the bar. It was pretty even the rest of the half with one chance for Distillery when Riley O’Hagan got in the way of their player. The resultant free-kick was a long way out. The shot hit a divot and gave Lughan Hardy no chance in the Blues nets, as he had already committed himself. Half time 1-0

Second half was all Northend pressure. We had chance after chance but every time we got into the box, Northend lacked the killer touch. The Blues only other clear chance coming from Caitlin Kelly who won the ball back and glided past a Distillery defender before firing off a shot which the keeper got a hand to , pushing it round the post. From the resulting corner, Oliver McBurney had a shot go through everyone only to get cleared by a Distillery player when it looked to have crossed the line, with the referee unsighted.

The Blues will feel disappointed with this result, having played more entertaining football throughout this game. Full time 1-0

Player of the Match: Oliver McBurney

Panel: L Hardy, R Maguire, J O’Hara, C Kelly, M Smyth, C McKay, S Scullin, O Gordon, C O’Neill, K McNeill, O McBurney, R O’Hagan, C Abernethy