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Castleview Swifts U14s 0 Northend United U14s 0 Saturday 23rd October 2010

The Northend blues travelled to Mallusk to play Castleview on Saturday, fresh from their good win over Barn United the previous week. However on a wet and blustery day their fluent passing football somehow deserted them and they were made to fight all the way for a hard earned point.

Northend started slowly and found Castleview on the offensive straight away. Ross Swan in the Northend goal pulled off a reflex save in the first few minutes.

Slowly the Northend team began to get in the game and create a few changes for their strikers. From a Jamie Speirs pass, Dylan Hamill found a lot of room on the Northend left hand side and his low ball into the box should have been driven home by the alert David Bradley, only for the Castleview keeper to make a good save.

Play continued from end to end in the first half, with the Northend midfield of Ryan Gault, Dylan Hamill, Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare all having an off day.

As Castleview continued to attack Northend, the Blues defence of Ciaran Quigg, Niall Swann, Thomas Brady and Michael Laverty held firm, dealing comfortably with whatever Castleview threw at them. However with no scoring in the first half, the half time score remained 0-0

The second half started off where the first left off with play again going from end to end. Peter Greer, Jordan Donnelly and Aidan O'Donnell replaced Hamill, Gault and McAvoy to try and inject some life into the Northend team.

From a Jordan Donnelly cross, David Bradley again found himself in a good position in front of the Castleview goal but the Castleview keeper again pulled off a good save.

Castleview continued to play the high ball into the Northend penalty area where good handling from Ross Swan prevented the chances leading to anything.

With play getting bogged down in midfield, a Northend free kick on the edge of the box resulted in a half chance which was eventually cleared.

Towards the end of the game Northend had a few chances to score, the best of which was a through ball which left Thomas Brady with a one on one with the keeper. However the Castleview man of the match pulled off a great save to prevent Northend from taking full points in this gutsy fixture.

With no second half scoring, the final score remained 0-0

Man of the Match: Michael Laverty

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

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Northend United U14s 9 Barn United U14s 2 Saturday 16th October 2010

This U14 team have had some impressive results of late and went into this game full of confidence.

Northend started in dominant mood and raced into a 1-0 lead when Jamie Speirs opened the scoring with a low drive from the edge of the box, on five minutes.

With the Northend midfield of Ryan Gault, Jamie Speirs, Stephen Hare, Thomas Brady and Dylan Hamill running riot with their fluent passing play, Dylan Hamill was on hand to score Northend's second goal.

Stephen Hare added Northend's third goal before Jamie Speirs scored his second and Northend's fourth with a twenty yard pile driver.

David Bradley scored Northend's fifth in their best footballing display of the season before Ryan Gault scored the sixth from a corner kick when he volleyed into the net to give the keeper no chance.

Barn United came back at United and won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. From the free kick Barn United pulled a goal back when their striker bent the ball around the wall and beat the Northend keeper, Ross Swan.

David Bradley scored his second just before half time leaving the half time score 7-1 to Northend.

Northend started off the second half in a similar fashion to the first. Aidan O'Donnell, who was having a good game, scored a goal after five minutes of the restart.

Northend brought on substitutes Peter Greer, Caolan Tierney, Jordan Donnelly and Anthony McAvoy for McCambridge, Laverty, Swann and O'Donnell and it was super-sub Jordan Donnelly who made his mark on the game when he went on to score four goals in a blistering second half performance.

Stephen Hare added a second goal to his total before Barn United scored their second goal after a Northend defensive mix-up.

In a final flurry, David Bradley and Jamie Speirs completed their hat-tricks and Thomas Brady and Anthony McAvoy also got on the score sheet.

This was undoubtedly Northend's best display of the season and results in them looking forward to next week's match against last year's League winners, Castleview Swifts.

Man of the Match: David Bradley

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

Antrim Rovers U14s 0 Northend United U14s 3 Saturday 9th October 2010

Northend travelled to the Antrim Forum to play the local Rovers team, after a one week layoff. Northend started off in a commanding fashion with Stephen Hare, Anthony McAvoy and David Bradley all going close in the opening minutes.

On seven minutes, from a Thomas Brady corner, David Bradley was on hand to head into the net to give Northend a 1-0 lead.

The Northend midfield of Jamie Speirs, Stephen Hare, Ryan Gault and Dylan Hamill were pulling all the strings creating opportunities for Bradley and McAvoy in the Northend attack.

Antrim Rovers could have opened their scoring when from a breakaway; the striker forced a good save from Ross Swan in the Northend net.

Northend doubled their scoring, when after some good exchange play between Stephen Hare and Jamie Speirs, a Speirs throughball to Ryan Gault put him clear of the Antrim defence and he made no mistake to make the score 2-0 to Northend.

Northend continued to dominate play for the remainder of the half but another goal eluded them. Niall Shannon replaced Donnelly at half time.

Northend started off the second half in determined fashion with David Bradley again going close for the visitors. However as the half wore on, Antrim began to dominate play from midfield. Ross Swan was called upon twice to make acrobatic saves from the Antrim strikers to keep Antrim from opening their scoring.

The Northend defence of Thomas Brady, Niall Swann, Michael Laverty and Niall Shannon soaked up the Antrim Pressure at this stage.

As the half worn on, Dylan Hamill was proving a thorn in the Antrim defence with his penetrating runs down the Northend wing. Aidan O'Donnell replaced McAvoy midway through the second half and his passing play began to cut holes in the Antrim Rovers defence.

Northend scored the all important third goal with ten minutes of the match remaining, when Thomas Brady received a pass just inside the Antrim half and unleashed a thunderous shot which flew into the net, giving the Antrim keeper no chance.

Northend continued to attack Antrim for the remainder of the half and should have had a penalty when David Bradley was hauled down from behind, inside the Antrim penalty box, only for the one-sided referee to wave play on.

With no further scoring, Northend had earned a hard won away victory and are looking forward to playing Barn United at home next week.

Man of the Match: Ross Swan

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

Southside U14s 0 Northend United U14s 1 Saturday 25th September 2010

In the first of this season's derby matches, Northend travelled the short distance to the Ballymena Showgrounds, to play Southside in a Belfast and East Antrim League Match.

Northend started off at a blistering speed and took the game to Southside immediately. Stephen Hare and David Bradley were in great form, causing the Southside defence all sorts of problems.

Dylan Hamill should have opened Northend's scoring on five minutes when he shot narrowly wide at the back post from a Stephen Hare cross. The same player was again unlucky on ten minutes when in a carbon copy of his first attempt he shot narrowly wide.

On eighteen minutes, Northend won a corner. From Thomas Brady's cross, Matthew Wright pulled the ball back to Gigsy Bradley and he volleyed the ball past the Southside keeper to give Northend a 1-0 lead.

Northend were now playing some of their best football of the season and Matthew Wright should have increased Northend's lead when he shot timidly at the keeper.

The Northend midfield of Jamie Speirs, Stephen Hare, Ryan Gault and Dylan Hamill were pulling all the strings at this stage and from a thirty yard shot, Jamie Speirs rattled the Southside crossbar and the keeper cleared the ball to safety.

Just before half time, Matthew Wright was again unlucky when from one yard out he failed to bury the ball in the net, leaving the half time score 1-0 to Northend.

Aidan O'Donnell and Jordan Donnelly replaced Hamill and Wright at half time. Northend came out again strong in the second half and again should have increased their lead but a good save from the Southside keeper kept them in the game.

As the half worn on, Northend conceded the midfield battle to Southside who began to dominate play.

It was during this spell that Thomas Brady and Niall Swann, the Northend centre backs, were outstanding winning all the aerial battles. Man of the Match Thomas Brady was called upon time and time again in the second half to keep the Southside strikers at bay.

Caolan Tierney and Ciaran McCambridge replaced Laverty and O'Donnell.

Midway through the second half, from a Northend breakaway, Gigsy Bradley crossed the ball and Jordan Donnelly thought he had beaten the Southside keeper to score, only for a save of the season by the young keeper.

With ten minutes of the match remaining, a lazy header from Caolan Tierney put the Southside midfielder through on a one on one with Ross Swan the Northend keeper, who saved well at the foot of the Southside player.

With no further scoring before full time, Northend took all the points in this excellent advert for youth football.

Man of the Match: Thomas Brady

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

Northend United U14s 8 Newington Youth U14s 1 Saturday 18th September 2010

After last weeks convincing win over Larne, Northend started of this game in determined fashion. The midfield of Jamie Speirs, Thomas Brady, Ryan Gault and Dylan Hamill began to dictate play right from the kick-off.

Northend attacked the Newington defence but found their keeper in great form. Midway through the half, Stephen Hare broke down the Northend right, and his excellent cross found David Bradley who made no mistake to score.

The game now flowed from end to end with Niall Swann providing a calming influence on the Northend defence, making some timely tackles to keep the Newington strikers at bay.

On twenty-two minutes, Stephen Hare again broke down the Northend right and seeing the keeper off his line, lobbed the ball high into the Newington net to make the score 2-0 to Northend.

Newington's heads didn't drop and the came back at Northend again. Ross Swan, in the Northend net, pulled off an amazing one-handed save from a Newington pile driver, to keep Northend in the game.

On twenty eight minutes, Jamie Speirs picked up a pass from the Northend defence and his pace left him clear of the Newington defenders and he coolly slotted the ball past the keeper, to leave the score 3-0.

Newington pulled one goal back just before half time, when a defensive error let their striker in to score to leave the half time score 3-1 to Northend.

The second half started with Northend again in dominant fashion and on eight minutes, Stephen Hare's shot rebounded off the cross bar and Ryan Gault followed up to beat the keeper.

Michael Laverty and Jordan Donnelly replaced Greer and Shannon. Northend kept pressing forward and Thomas Brady was unlucky not to add to Northend's score, when he shot narrowly wide.

Dylan Hamill was next on the scoresheet when he picked up a loose ball, twenty yards out and hit a low shot that beat the Newington keeper, to make the score 5-1 to Northend.

Ciaran McCambridge and Matthew Wright replaced Tierney and Speirs before Stephen Hare scored his second goal of the game and Northend's sixth, when he outpaced the defender and beat the keeper with a low shot.

Aidan O'Donnell replaced Hamill before David Bradley score his second goal and Northend's seventh, when he beat his marker and raced clear of the defence to slip the ball past the Newington keeper.

Northend weren't finished yet and Aidan O'Donnell scored Northend's eighth, when he drilled the ball into the net through a packed penalty box, leaving the final score 8-1 to Northend.

Man of the Match: Niall Swann

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

Larne Youth U14s 2 Northend United U14s 4 Saturday 11th September 2010

Played in bright sunshine, Northend travelled to Sandy Bay to play Larne Youth in a League match. Larne started off this match the stronger team and twice within the opening ten minutes Ross Swan, in the Northend net, was called upon to make good saves to keep Northend in the game.

However Northend weathered the early pressure and Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare began to stamp their authority on the game, with some slick passing play. On fourteen minutes, Jamie Speirs picked up a pass just inside Larne's half and scored a contender for goal of the season, when he unleashed a long range shot which ended up in the top corner of the Larne net, to give Northend the lead.

Northend began to dominate play at this stage and Ryan Gault was causing all sorts of problems for the Larne defence. From a Gault pass, Stephen Hare beat a defender and crossed the ball where Matthew Wright was on hand to score Northend's second goal.

Larne came back at Northend and Ross Swan pulled off a finger tip save to maintain Northend's lead. The Northend defence of Peter Greer, Niall Swann, Thomas Brady and Jordan Donnelly were soaking up the Larne pressure but Larne eventually pulled one back when a shot from the edge of the penalty area ended up in the net.

Caolan Tierney replaced Donnelly just before half time. The half time score remained 2-1 to Northend.

Northend started off the second half in more dominant fashion and from a short Speirs corner, Caolan Tierney scored with a left foot shot from all of twenty-five yards, to make the score 3-1 to Northend.

Northend continued to take the game to Larne with some good attacking play from Caolan Tierney, Dylan Hamill and David Bradley down the Northend left wing. Jamie Speirs picked up a pass midway inside the Larne half and for the second time in the match hit another long range shot which left the Larne keeper stranded and ended up in the top corner of the net to leave the score 4-1 to Northend.

Ciaran McCambridge, Aidan O'Donnell and Niall Shannon replaced Gault, Wright and Greer.

Aidan O'Donnell settled into the game quickly and was giving the Larne defender a torrid time. From one of his crosses, David Bradley volleyed the ball past the Larne keeper, only for the referee to give a very dubious offside decision.

Larne had the final say when a timid cross somehow ended un in the Northend net, going in off the upright, to leave the final score 4-2 to Northend.

Man of the Match: Jamie Speirs and Stephen Hare

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

Northend United U14s 1 Glendowan U14s 4 Saturday 4th September 2010

Northend U14s started off their first league match of the season, against the unknown Glendowan team from Belfast. Northend had the better of the early stages but failed to clear the ball from a corner kick after ten minutes and conceded a goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Northend came back almost immediately and Stephen Hare was unlucky when his shot was cleared off the goal line and Dylan Hamill drove the rebound narrowly wide.

Play flowed from end to end in a hectic first half and Northend were unlucky when a pile driver of a shot cannoned off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

However Glendowan were always dangerous on the break and from a left wing cross the ball ended up in the Northend net, giving the visitors a surprise 2-0 lead.

In a disastrous end to the first half, Glendowan scored a third goal, again starting from their left wing and ending up with their striker scoring past Ross Swan in the Northend goal

Northend came out for the second half in more determined fashion. Jamie Speirs and Thomas Brady began to stamp their authority on the game and after some good passing play on the edge of Glendowan's penalty box, Thomas Brady was on hand to drive the ball past the Glendowan keeper and low into the net to make the score 3-1.

Northend began to pile on the pressure but found the Glendowan defence in top form. The second half play became bogged down in midfield but David Bradley and Stephen Hare created openings for shots that caused the Glendowan keeper to pull off some good saves.

With time running out, Glendowan caught Northend on the break and scored their fourth goal of the game. As Northend chased the game, Ross Swan pulled off a pointblank save to deny Glendowan another goal, leaving the final score 4-1 to Glendowan

Man of the Match: Stephen Hare

Team: R Swan, N Shannon, J Donnelly, M Laverty, N Swann, J Speirs (c), T Brady, D Hamill, R Gault, S Hare, D Bradley, M Wright, P Greer, A O'Donnell, C Tierney, C McCambridge, B O'Mullan