Northend U-11s produce impressive display as weather curtails fixtures

The Blues youngsters produced another impressive performance against Roe Valley.

Although losing by a single goal margin, the Northend boys are really beginning to gel as they look forward to their forthcoming NIBFA Cup derby match against their neighbours Ballymoney United.

The Lisburn league matches were cancelled very late on Saturday morning just as the Blues were about to depart Ballymena.

However all teams are looking forward to getting back in action this week with the U13s, U14s and U15s all playing Lisburn Distillery and the U16s playing Hillsborough Boys.

UNDER-11

Northend United 0, Roe Valley 1: Northend United used the fixture to blend three new boys into the squad ahead of the scheduled NIBFA Cup game.

Both teams started the game at a frantic pace, although it was Roe Valley who benefited from some better early possession and edged themselves in-front after three minutes when Northend only partially cleared their goal area from a corner.

Northend finally settled into their pattern of play around the ten minute mark when a Jack Adams free kick tested the Roe Valley keeper.

Another Jack Adams free-kick was again saved well by the keeper after sixteen minutes, before Niall Devine made a strong run into the box and was unlucky to see his shot blocked by a defender.

Lewis Hector’s pace unsettled Roe Valley and the young striker made an excellent run onto a through ball from Owen Campbell only to have his shot deflected into the side netting.

Lewis Hector went agonisingly close to an equaliser when a through ball from Niall McGarel set him free from the Roe Valley defence. As the keeper rushed of his line the young striker bravely went into the challenge and saw his effort shave past the post.

Moments later the Roe Valley keeper was again quickly off his line to clear the ball from Owen Campbell and David McKay showed great vision to fire the clearance back to goal with his first touch, once again the ball went very narrowly wide of goal.

Roe Valley still carried a threat and Curtis Wilson flicked a close range effort onto the post.

Northend: C Wilson, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, N McGarel, J Adams, O Campbell, N Devine, L Hector, D McKay, R Tsang and C O’Brien.

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The latest session of the Football Development Centre came to an end on Friday night at the Sentry Hill Sports Hall when all the U7 development squad turned up in Festive Dress for an exciting night’s football which ended up with a Christmas Party,

The FDC now takes a short break but returns again on Friday 23rd January, again at Sentry Hill. The FDC is open to all boys and girls aged 4 to 8 inclusive who are unconnected with any other Club and takes from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.

For more information, or to reserve your child a place on the course, please call John Devlin on 07919056834. Application forms can also be printed off the website www.northendunitedyouthfc.co.uk

WAKEHURST UPDATE

All at Northend United were pleased last weekend when former player and U17 captain Niall Swann scored his first goal for Wakehurst FC in their Irish Cup match away to Derriaghy CC.

Former Northend players recently as Jamie Speirs and Kyle Jackson, were also on the scoresheet for Wakehurst Strollers in recent cup matches and surely it can’t be long before Speirs joins former Northend teammates Niall Swann and Aodhan Tolan in the first team panel.