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Northend United U14s 1 Grosvenor U14s 5 Saturday 26th March 2011

The Northend Blues travelled to Mallusk to play Grosvenor in a Shield match in bright sunshine on Saturday. A game of two halves would be an understatement, with Northend dominating the first and Grosvenor dominating the second.

Northend started the brightest and the midfield of Jamie Speirs, Matthew Mulholland, Ryan Gault and Anthony McAvoy were pulling the strings. Stephen Hare's pace was causing Grosvenor all sorts of problems down the Northend right wing. Indeed he was unlucky when a few blocking tackles saved the day for Grosvenor, from his penetrating runs into their penalty box.

Grosvenor took the lead, against the run of play, when a high shot into the Northend box ended up in the net, eluding everyone.

The Blues came back at Grosvenor and Ryan Gault's cross ball deceived the Grosvenor defence but nobody could get a touch to steer the ball into the net.

Northend got just reward for their efforts when a Matthew Mulholland free kick beat the Grosvenor keeper, flying into the top corner.

Northend kept the pressure on Grosvenor and could have gone in front at half time but for some good defending and goalkeeping from Grosvenor.

Northend started off the second half brightly and from a Stephen Hare run and resultant cross, David Bradley should have given them the lead but failed to connect with the ball, with an open goal at his mercy.

This was to be a harsh lesson in missed chances because moments later, Grosvenor scored a breakaway goal which seemed to knock the heart out of the team. They followed this up shortly afterwards with a third goal when defensive mistakes again allowed their striker to run on to a throughball and beat Ross Swan in the Northend net.

Substitutes Ryan Walsh, Jordan Donnelly and Niall Shannon were introduced but to no avail as Northend seemed to press the self-destruct button and allow Grosvenor in to score an additional two goals before the final whistle.

This is a hard lesson to learn for this Northend team, when on top they need to learn to kill the game and not give their opponents a way back into the match.

Man of the Match: Matthew Mulholland

Panel: R Swan, D Hamill, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann, J Speirs(c), M Mulholland, A McAvoy, R Gault, D Bradley, S Hare, R Walsh, N Shannon, J Donnelly

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Carrick Rangers U14s 1 Northend United U14s 0 Saturday 19th March 2011

The Northend Blues travelled to play Carrick Rangers at Mallusk on Saturday, hoping to avenge a defeat to the same team a few weeks ago. Northend started off brightly and Thomas Brady and David Bradley were causing all sorts of problems for the Carrick defence with their forward play..

The Northend midfield of Gault, Speirs, McAvoy and Hare were pulling the strings and dictating play in the early stages for the Northend Blues.

The first opening fell to David Bradley, when a Brady cross sent him clear of the Carrick defence and his shot went inches wide of the post.

The Blues kept the pressure on, and Jamie Speirs and Ryan Gault both went close with shots which the Carrick keeper dealt comfortably with.

Carrick did break and hit Northend on the counterattack when from a left wing cross, their big striker got in front of Michael Laverty to score, giving Carrick a 1-0 lead against the run of play.

Northend reserved some of their best football of the season for this match and Anthony McAvoy and Ryan Gault were causing havoc to the Carrick defence with their wing play. From a Northend corner, Niall Swann could only watch as his header sailed over the cross bar.

However the Blues could not find their way past an inspired goalkeeping display from the Carrick keeper in the first half and the half time score remained 1-0

Northend started off the second half playing into the breeze. Carrick went on the offensive but found a Northend defence of Dylan Hamill, Michael Laverty, Caolan Tierney and Niall Swann on top of their game.

Northend gradually came more into the game and Stephen Hare was causing all sorts of problems for Carrick with his probing runs from midfield. Northend began to pile on the pressure on the Carrick defence and Thomas Brady was supplying the crosses into the Carrick defence but unfortunately nobody from Northend could force the ball home, to give them a deserved equaliser.

Jamie Speirs was playing a true captain's role, covering every inch in midfield and from one of his attacking runs, Thomas Brady just failed to convert with a good chance.

Carrick came back at Northend and they hit the crossbar with a shot when Northend failed to clear a corner

Aidan O'Donnell and Ryan Walsh were introduced to strengthen the Northend midfield, as the Blues looked for a deserved equaliser and for the second week in a row, Ryan Walsh was unlucky not to score when a back flick went narrowly wide with the keeper well beaten.

However as Northend piled on the pressure on the Carrick goal, they could not score the all important goal and the final score remained 1-0 to Carrick Rangers. A special word of mention goes to a good display from Michael Laverty, who marshalled the big Carrick striker throughout the match.

Men of the Match: Anthony McAvoy, Dylan Hamill

Panel: R Swan, D Hamill, C Tierney, M Laverty, N Swann, J Speirs(c), S Hare, A R Gault, D Bradley, T Brady, A McAvoy, R Walsh, N Shannon, J Donnelly, A O'Donnell

Northend United U14s 1 Grosvenor Youth U14s 1 Friday 1th March 2011

Northend entertained Grosvenor Youth at their Showgrounds base on Friday night in wet and windy conditions. The Blues had a point to prove after their indifferent form the previous week.

Grosvenor started the strongest and went close in the first few minutes but Dylan Hamill and Ciaran Quigg combined well to clear the danger. This was a wake-up call for the Blues and inspired them to some of their best football of the season, with Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare pulling the strings in midfield.

Thomas Brady and Anthony McAvoy were causing havoc down the Northend wings and from a Brady cross David Bradley went close with a shot that went narrowly wide.

Play continued to flow from end to end and from a Grosvenor break away, Northend conceded a corner. From the resultant kick their big striker rose above the Northend defence to head them into a 1-0 lead, against the run of play.

Such is the spirit in this team, that Northend came right back at Grosvenor and Ryan Gault went close with another shot. However as the Blues dominated the rest of the half, they could not find a way past the solid Grosvenor rear guard. The score remained 1-0 to Grosvenor at half-time.

Grosvenor again started the second half on top but Northend weathered this early pressure and eventually came more into the game. Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare again began to get on top in midfield but the Grosvenor defence held firm against the Northend attacks.

Just when it was looking at it wasn't going to be Northend's day, Niall Swann made an excellent run out of the Northend defence, beating two players before he unleashed a shot from twenty-five yards which the keeper could only parry and David Bradley smashed home the rebound to level the score at 1-1.

Grosvenor came back at Northend and Ross Swan was called upon to make a point blank save from the big Grosvenor striker's shot. Northend now introduced their substitutes Ryan Walsh and Jordan Donnelly to give them additional attacking options in their quest for a winner.

Indeed it was almost an inspired substitution when Ryan Walsh got on the end of a Stephen Hare cross but from four yards out, had his first shot blocked on the line and from the rebound he hit the post, when it seamed easier to score.

Niall Shannon came on to give extra strength in midfield as both Northend and Grosvenor played out the remaining minutes of the game but with no further scoring, the result was 1-1 at the final whistle.

Man of the Match: Ciaran Quigg

Panel: R Swan, D Hamill, M Laverty, C Quigg, N Swann, J Speirs(c), S Hare, T Brady, A McAvoy, R Gault, D Bradley, R Walsh, N Shannon, J Donnelly

Northend United U14s 1 Carrick Rangers U14s 7 Friday 4th March 2011

Played under floodlights at Northend's Showground base on Friday night, the Blues were caught cold and conceded three goals in the first twelve minutes against a very good Carrick Rangers team, who had a height advantage on their side.

Northend gradually came into the game, looking for a goal that would give them a way back. Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare were causing all sorts of problems and David Bradley was unlucky with a shot with the Carrick keeper did well to save.

This was Northend's best spell of the game, with Speirs going close from a free-kick and Hare again causing problems with his darting runs. However just as it looked that Northend would get back in the game, Carrick scored their fourth with a high looping shot from outside the Northend box with deceived the Blues keeper on the way into the net.

Northend kept battling and Stephen Hare reduced the leeway when he scored for Northend on the stroke of half time to leave the score 4-1 to Carrick.

Northend started off the second half in determined fashion, again taking the game to Carrick but could find no way past a well marshalled Carrick defence. Carrick who were playing the high ball game ,caught Northend out with a throughball which left their striker clear of the Northend defence and he made no mistake to score.

Northend lost their influential captain Speirs shortly afterwards after a heavy tackle, forcing a reshuffle of the side, with Niall Swann being pushed up into midfield. The same player was very unlucky with two opportunities when his strong running from midfield saw his shots go narrowly past the post with the Carrick keeper beaten.

However Northend paid the price of chasing the game when Carrick ran in two late scores, the second of which was a very dubious penalty decision awarded by the referee.

The scoreline in no way reflects the balance of play in the game but Northend were taught a lesson in clinical finishing from a very good Carrick strike force.

Man of the Match: Niall Swann

Panel: R Swan, C Quigg, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann, J Speirs(c), A McAvoy, R Gault, D Hamill, D Bradley, S Hare, R Walsh, N Shannon, C Tierney, J Donnelly, A O'Donnell

Northend United U14s 4 Coleraine U14s 1 Saturday 26th February 2011

Northend kicked off this match against Coleraine at Smithfield in bright sunshine. Northend went on the attack from the start and David Bradley and Jamie Speirs had early chances.

Coleraine came back into the game and tested the Northend defence of Hamill, Tierney, Brady and Quigg. Ross Swan, in the Northend goal, was called upon to make some timely saves.

Gradually, the Blues came more into the game and from a Bradley header, Stephen Hare ran on to the lose ball and thundered his shot past the Coleraine keeper to give Northend a 1-0 lead.

Northend's second goal came from their defence when Thomas Brady played an excellent throughball to Ryan Walsh. He skipped inside his marker and passed to David Bradley, who made no mistake from ten yards.With no further scoring, the half time score remained 2-0 to Northend.

Northend came out after the break and took the game to Coleraine almost straight away. Stephen Hare made a darting run down the wing and from his cross, Ryan Walsh put the ball inches over the crossbar.

This miss spurned Coleraine on and they now took the game to Northend. Thomas Brady and Ciaran Quigg were playing well in the heart of the Northend defence and Dylan Hamill superbly marshalling the defence. However a free kick, conceded on the edge of the Northend penalty box allowed their big midfielder to strike an unstoppable shot past the Northend goalkeeper.

Jordan Donnelly now replaced Walsh to give a fresh pair of legs to the Northend strike force. This was an inspired substitution because in a short space of time, Donnelly got on the end of a Stephen Hare shot and beat the keeper with a low shot to give Northend some breathing space at 3-1.

Niall Shannon now came on as substitute to give some bite to the Northend midfield. It was all Northend now and Anthony McAvoy was unlucky when his powerful drive was well saved by the Coleraine keeper. Northend were to have the final say in this game when a Jamie Speirs shot bounced over the keeper and ended up the Coleraine net to leave the score 4-1 to Northend at the final whistle.

Man of the Match: Dylan Hamill

Panel: R Swan, D Hamill, C Tierney, T Brady, C Quigg, J Speirs(c), A McAvoy, R Walsh, S Hare, D Bradley, R Gault, J Donnelly, N Shannon

Northend United U14s 2 Willowbank U14s 0 Friday 18th February 2011

The Northend Blues entertained Willowbank at Ballymena Showgrounds on a cold, wet and blustery Friday night. Northend started off brightly and Ciaran Quigg and Ryan Walsh were causing all sorts of problems for the Willowbank defence with their jinxing wing play down the Northend right side.

The Northend midfield of Gault, Speirs, McAvoy and Hamill were pulling the strings and creating chances for Bradley and Walsh.

The first opening fell to Ryan Walsh, when a throughball sent him clear of the Willowbank defence and his shot went inches wide of the post.

The Blues kept the pressure on, and from a Jamie Speirs cross, Ryan Gault somehow volleyed the ball over the bar from five yards, when well placed in front of goal. In a blistering first half display, David Bradley went close on two occasions and Speirs also saw the keeper make a good save from one of his shots.

However the Blues could not find their way past an inspired goalkeeping display from the Willowbank keeper in the first half and the half time score remained 0-0

Northend started off the second half playing into the wind and driving rain. Willowbank went on the offensive but found a Northend defence of Ciaran Quigg, Michael Laverty, Thomas Brady and Niall Swann on top of their game.

As the game became bogged down in midfield, each team found the conditions difficult to deal with. From a long shot from the Willowbank striker, Ross Swan made an excellent save at the second attempt when he blocked the ball on the goal line.

This inspired Northend and when Jamie Speirs found himself on the ball, he unleashed an unstoppable shot from twenty-five yards which went high into the net, to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Jordan Donnelly and Aidan O'Donnell were introduced to give the midfield a shake up and they both had chances to further increase Northend's lead but the keeper made good saves on both occasions.

With twenty minutes of the second half gone, Anthony McAvoy won the ball in midfield and went on a jinxing run beating two Willowbank players before being fouled inside the box.

Jamie Speirs stepped up to take the penalty and beat the keeper with a low shot which sent the keeper the wrong way.

Caolan Tierney and Niall Shannon were introduced to strengthen the Northend midfield, as the Blues kept possession and ran out the rest of the game, to give themselves a convincing 2-0 win on a night not made for fluent passing football.

Man of the Match: Jamie Speirs

Panel: R Swan, C Quigg, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann, J Speirs(c), A McAvoy, R Gault, D Hamill, D Bradley, R Walsh, N Shannon, C Tierney, J Donnelly, A O'Donnell

Northend United U14s 0 Hillsborough Boys U14s 2 Saturday 12th February 2011

Northend started off this match against Hillsborough Boys in the NIBFA Cup at Smithfield before a large crowd of supporters from the home and away teams.

Northend started off the livelier and Ryan Walsh was causing his marker all sorts of problems.

Northend got the first chance of the game when Walsh beat his marker and put in a shot that just went wide of the post.

The game became boiled down in midfield with Jamie Speirs and Anthony McAvoy dominating play. However Hillsborough came back into the game but the Northend defence of Ciaran Quigg, Thomas Brady, Niall Swann and Michael Laverty dealt with whatever came at them.

Northend had a second chance to score when David Bradley's shot was saved by the large Hillsborough keeper.

Hillsborough took the lead with twenty five minutes of the game gone when a speculative shot from outside the area beat the Northend keeper, going in off the crossbar. With no further scoring, the half-time score remained 1-0 to Northend.

Northend came out for the second half against a rejuvenated Hillsborough side and the defence was again called upon to deal with whatever came at them.

The Blues lost the influential McAvoy due to injury and he was replaced by Jordan Donnelly.

From a corner, Hillsborough scored their second goal of the game, when a number of Northend players failed to clear the ball at the front post and the Hillsborough drove the ball home from eight yards.

As Hillsborough kept pressing, Ross Swan, in the Northend net, pulled off a one handed save to tip the ball round the post.

Ryan Walsh had a chance for Northend but the defender got in a blocking tackle to clear the ball for Hillsborough.

With time running out, Niall Shannon, Aidan O'Donnell and Caolan Tierney were introduced to the game to give Northend fresh pairs of legs but Hillsborough closed up shop and waited for the final whistle.

This was a good display from Northend against a team second in the Lisburn League and they return to league action next week.

Man of the Match: Jamie Speirs

Panel: R Swan, C Quigg, M Laverty, T Brady, N Swann, J Speirs(c), A McAvoy, R Gault, D Hamill, D Bradley, R Walsh, N Shannon, C Tierney, J Donnelly, A O'Donnell

18th Newtownabbey U14s 0 Northend United U14s 9 Saturday 5th February 2011

The Northend Blues started off this match with a slow tempo and found themselves in defensive fashion from the kick-off. Newtownabbey piled on the pressure and were unlucky not to score when their striker shot narrowly past the post.

This was a wake-up call they needed and from a midfield run, Jamie Speirs hit the post with a low shot but the ball rebounded to Stephen Hare who made no mistake to give Northend the lead.

In a blistering opening spell, Stephen Hare scored his second goal when he outpaced his marker and ran on to beat the keeper at his near post.

Anthony McAvoy was next to score when a great solo run from midfield led to him beating two players and volleying home from twenty yards.

Stephen Hare, who was having an inspired game, scored a carbon copy of his second goal, when he outpaced the defender and ran on to score to give Northend a 4-0 lead.

The Northend Blues continued to dominate play in midfield and from a Speirs pass; Dylan Hamill cut inside from the left wing and beat the keeper with a high ball into the Newtownabbey net.

Goal of the game was scored next, when Hamill crossed the ball from the left wing and Ryan Gault met the ball with a full volley which beat the keeper and almost bust the net.

Just before half time, the Blues were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out. Jamie Speirs stepped up and guided the ball over the wall and high into the net, giving the keeper no chance, leaving the half time score 7-0 to the Northend Blues.

Ryan Walsh replaced Gault at half time and Niall Shannon replaced Ross Swan in nets. Northend started off the second half where they left off the first and Jamie Speirs scored his second with a shot from twenty five yards.

Stephen Hare scored another two goals when his pace took him clear of his marker and he made no mistake with low strikes which beat the Newtownabbey keeper.

Jamie Speirs was on hand to score his third when Walsh allowed him to score when they both raced clear of the Abbey defence.

Northend continued to pressure and Thomas Brady was next on the scoresheet when he beat the keeper with a high dipping shot into the Newtownabbey penalty box.

Man of the Match Stephen Hare scored his sixth goal before the popular Ryan Walsh opened his scoring when he ran on to a throughball and rounded the keeper.

Jamie Speirs scored his fourth when he headed home at the back post before the biggest cheer of the day went up when David Bradley got on the scoresheet, when he coolly beat the keeper with a low drive into the corner of the net.

Northend weren't finished yet and Walshie flicked the ball over his marker and ran on to score his second of the match.

Man of the Match: Stephen Hare

Panel: R Swan, N Shannon, C Tierney, T Brady, C Quigg, J Speirs(c), A McAvoy, D Hamill, S Hare, D Bradley, R Gault, J Donnelly, R Walsh