Northend U-16s kick-start season with great win over Lisburn

It was also a good day for the U14s who beat Oxford Sunnyside to continue their early season good form.

Elsewhere in the Lisburn Youth League, John Devlin’s U13s and Johnny Sayers U15s lost their matches against TTBS and Lisburn Youth respectively.

In the North West and Coleraine District League, the U10s put last week’s performance behind them with a good 2-0 win over Coleraine Olympic. However it was not such a good day for the U12’s who eventually lost out to two late goals in their match against Dungiven Celtic.

Both the U9s teams open their season account in the IFA Small sided games tournament at the Showgrounds on Saturday morning, playing against local neighbours Ballymena United and Carniny Youth.

The Club’s two U8 teams are looking forward to getting their season underway next Friday night at the IFA Tournament in Ballymoney

Finally, a special mention goes to Callum Forsythe who sustained a broken arm on Saturday, playing for the U13s and all at the Club wish him a speedy recovery.

UNDER-9

Saturday saw both Northend United and Youth U9’s in action in the IFA mini soccer at Ballymena Showgrounds. They competed against teams from Ballymena United, Carniny Youth and Wellington Rec in 12 minute games. Both teams did very well and the hard work at training is starting to show.

Northend United panel: C Burnside, J Mark, C Hendron, C McKeown, P McAuley, L Devlin, O Maka, C O’Hara

Northend Youth panel: S McDermott, D Patterson, K McAllister, PP Donegan, L Convery, C Reid, D Higgins, E Pirie.

UNDER-10

Northend United 2, Coleraine Olympic 0: This was a much better performance than last week with Northend immediately going on the attack.

They took the lead when Stevie Bristow made a great block and quickly played the ball forward to Jay McKeown who scored from a tight angle.

On 21 minutes Ben O’Neill shot from distance which the keeper did well to save but McKeown was on hand to tap the ball home for his second of the match and Northend were able to protect that two-goal advantage for the remainder of the match. MOM - Ben O’Neill.

Northend: PJ McDonnell, R Campbell, S Bristow, B O’Neill, J McKeown, E Mitchell, Z Erwin, T Boyd, C McGarry

UNDER-11

Northend United 5, Ballyclare CFC 0: United produced a fantastic display of passing football to run out comfortable winners in this friendly fixture with goals from Callum McMurray (2), Owen Campbell, Peter Bristow and Kevin Cosgrove. MOM - Owen Campbell, Jack Adams

Northend: C Wilson, F McAuley, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, P Bristow, J Adams, O Campbell, L Hector, R Tsang, C McMurray.

UNDER-12

Northend United 1, Donegal Celtic 3: The first half was an even affair with Northend edging the better chances. Playing against a physical stronger team Northend played some lovely passing football.

It was from a free kick that Northend took a deserved lead mid way through the half. Harry Wylie struck the ball from outside the area which soared over the keeper’s reach, for a wonderful goal.

However Dungiven rallied after this and piled on the pressure. Northend gave away a silly free kick which appeared soft compared to the challenges that they received. Sloppy marking allowed a poor struck free kick to find the net.

Northend were slow to start the second half and out of nothing found themselves 2-1 down. With time running out Northend tried to get something out of the game and were caught a couple of times on the break that Dungiven failed to take. Although with a few minutes to go Dungiven cleared the ball and found themselves 3 on 1 and made sure of the points by hitting the ball over Coire Mellon’s reach. MOM - Harry Wylie.

Northend: C Mellon, F McQuillan, J Morrow, P Esler, H Wylie (C), C McGaughey, J Montgomery, P Ferris, C Russell, C Kilgore.

UNDER-13

TTBS 5, Northend United 0: Northend never got going in the first half of this match and fell behind to an early goal in the game.

This unsettled the Blues and they were under pressure for long periods of the first half and conceded two more goals before half time.

The game got worse for Northend when they lost their midfielder Callum Forsythe when he fell awkwardly and broke his arm badly. Northend made some changes at half time and they were able to close down better but they still conceded two more goals before full time. MOM - Jay Kirkpatrick, Conor McDonald

Northend: O Connolly, C Killough, C Meeke, C McDonald, J Kirkpatrick, R Gamble, J Coates, J Givens, C Forsythe, M, Stewart, R Boomer, C Metrustry, M Rainey

UNDER-14

Northend United 3, Oxford Sunnyside Colts 2: Northend came back into some kind of form in this match and scored three goals in a first half which they completely dominated.

Northend went ahead through Conor McGarry on 12 minutes, Robert Iovu made it two on 16 minutes then Tom Patchett scored a twenty yard cracker to make it three nil on 22 minutes.

Again Northend created numerous chances at the start of the second half, but failed to beat Oxfords goalkeeper. Oxford pulled one back with 12 minutes to go. A long punt from their goalkeeper caused havoc in Northend’s box, they failed to clear and somehow the ball ended up in Northend’s net.

Incredibly, Oxfords goalkeeper scored with 5 minutes to go when he scored direct from a free-kick from 35 yards. MOM - Niall Craig and Tom Patchett

Northend: C Brennan, S Frew, S Lecky, R McCluney, J Brady, N Craig, M Willighan, R Iovu (c), T Patchett, R Lorimer, C MGarry, R Campbell, C Gordon, T McAuley, R Jones.

UNDER-15

Northend United 0, Lisburn Youth 5: Missing a few regulars, this was always going to be a tough fixture for the Northend Boys.

Josh Mark was again in top form in the Northend nets but he could do nothing to prevent Lisburn taking the lead, almost on the stroke of half time.

The game was only two minutes old in the second half when Lisburn struck a killer blow and scored their second goal, following a defensive lapse. This goal visibly shook Northend and five minutes later, Lisburn had added a third goal, when their striker found time in the Northend penalty box to place the ball past Josh Mark.

However try as they might, Northend could not get a goal to get them back in the game and Lisburn went on to score two more goals very late in the game.

Northend: J Mark, B Millar, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, J Stevenson, B McGarvey, J Adams, S Hutchinson, J Penny, G Macartney, J Penny, E McLaughlin, J Wharry, M Kirk, A Campbell.

UNDER-16

Northend United 3, Lisburn Youth 1: The Blues started brightly, playing some neat football but it was Lisburn Youth who almost opened the scoring when a shot rattled the Northend crossbar.

However the Blues again came more into the game and a clever Cameron Neilly pass, split the Lisburn defence and allowed Zack Herbison to race clear of the Lisburn defence and plant the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Into the second half and Lisburn were the team on top in the opening exchanges and equalised after ten minutes.

When the ball was crossed into the Northend penalty box, the Lisburn striker planted the ball into the bottom corner of the net after the ball wasn’t properly cleared.

Northend introduced Stephen Olliver and Matthew Waide to play and they had an immediate impact in the game. Stephen Olliver released Sam Bennett down the Northend wing and his cross flashed agonisingly across the face of the Lisburn net with nobody getting a touch on it.

Maciek Mucka replaced the injured Bennett shortly after this before Northend regained the lead midway through the half. Following some good play from Jamie Houston and Matthew Waide, it was Waide who closed down the Lisburn defender and slipped the ball to Zack Herbison to plant the ball past the Lisburn goalkeeper.

Northend was now the team on top in this game and Jamie Houston made sure of the points, when he score Northend’s third goal, following another good pass from Matthew Waide.

This was a good performance from the Ballymena Boys with Robbie Dennison and Tom Campbell in top form on the day.

Northend: B Cairns, J Galbraith, L McAllister, R McKenna, R Dennison, J Houston, T Campbell, A Milligan, S Bennett, Z Herbison, C Neilly, M Waide, S Olliver, M Mucka

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Northend United’s Football Development Centre continued on Monday night at Ballymena Showgrounds pitch 3.The Football Development Centre is open to all boys and girls aged 4 to 10 inclusive who are unconnected with any other Club and takes place each Monday night 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 Northend website www.northendunitedyouthfc.co.uk

GOLF FUNDRAISING DAY

As we enter the final week before Northend’s Big Golf Fundraising Day on Sunday 5th October, plans have been finalised for the day at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

Tournament organisers, Rodney and Phil are looking to go one further than the huge success of last year’s tournament when a number of Sporting Celebrities turned out to support the Northend cause.

The organisers have already received a number of 4-ball entries for this year’s event.

With slots almost filled up, one or two are still remaining, and participants are asked to get in contact with Rodney as soon as possible to reserve a final slot in what promises to be another great day’s golf.

Contact Rodney: 0774 2075529