Northend under-14s setting the pace as early-season league leaders

Northend United U14s continued their early season good form during the week with two wins against Bloomfield and Lurgan Townthat leave the Northend boys sitting proudly at the top of the table.
The Northend United U14 team who lead the Lisburn Invitational Youth league.The Northend United U14 team who lead the Lisburn Invitational Youth league.
The Northend United U14 team who lead the Lisburn Invitational Youth league.

Elsewhere in the Lisburn Youth League, Johnny Sayers U15s had a good 3-0 win against Hillsborough Boys, picking up their first points of the season.

However it was not such a good day for the U13s and U16s who lost their respective matches against Lurgan Town and Lisburn Distillery.

The North West and Coleraine District League kicks off next week for the Club’s youngest teams and a number of them were in action this weekend, including the U9s, U10s and U11 Youth teams, in the well organised Andrew Eakin Sevens Tournament held at Ballysally, Coleraine on Saturday.

The U11s United team played out a 0-0 draw with Ballymena United at the Showgrounds as both teams get ready for next week’s League action.

UNDER-9

The U9’s were involved in the Andrew Eakin Tournament at Ballysally on Saturday. After coming through the group stages the side were involved in a semi for the plate v Bertie Peacocks United but came up short in a tight game.

Results:

Northend United 2 (Euan Pirie 2), Dungiven Celtic 2; Northend United 4 (Pirie, Daniel Patterson, Lewis Devlin, Conan McKeown) Carniny Youth 1; Northend United 0, Bertie Peacocks 1.

Plate Semi: Northend United 0Bertie Peacock United 1

Northend: S McDermott, L Devlin, J Mark, C Hendron, P McAuley, C Burnside, C McKeown, E Pirie, D Patterson

UNDER-10

The under-10s were also involved in the Andrew Eakin tournament and in their first match they came up against the eventful winners of the competition Bertie’s Little Ants. Within the first 5 minutes Northend were 3-0 down but the boys dug in to show real grit and determination to stem the flow of attacks. Callum Lutton pulled off some fines saves but could do little to prevent another two goals against the Ballymena club.

Northend United 3, Ballymena Town 0: The Ballymena defence kept out the Northend forwards until the tenth minute when Shea O’Broin unleashed a long range effort which came off the post and into the net.

Good play from Mitchell and McDonnell in midfield resulted in a chance for McKeown on the left edge of the penalty box to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

A late goal from O’Broin from close range rounded off a super performance to the delight of the travelling supporters.

Northend United 4, Roe Valley 1: Northend went into the final group game knowing a win would put them into the semi-final of the plate competition and a shot from Shea O’Broin from the edge of the box after just 3 minutes saw Northend take the lead.

A good ball from Tyler Boyd to O’Broin gave the striker the opportunity on the left side of the box to slide the ball into the corner of the net. Roe Valley never gave in and after a goal mouth scramble the ball ended in the back of the Northend net giving keeper PJ O’Donnell no chance.

Northend stepped up the pace again and a nice pass from Bristow to McKeown gave the forward the opportunity to burst through the defence and slide the ball into the net.

In the last minute Callum Lutton played the ball through for Campbell to beat the keeper to the ball and slide it into the net to secure all 3 points and second place in the group.

Northend United 1, Dungiven Celtic 4: The semi-final of the plate was always going to be a touch encounter without the firepower of Shea O’Broin and the clash was all but over in the first 5 minutes, by which stage Northend were 3-0 down.

Dungiven got another goal towards the end of the game but Northend battled to the end and were rewarded with a late consolation goal from McKeown in the last minute.

Northend: C Lutton, S Bristow, J McKeown, E Mitchell, T Boyd, R Campbell, S O’Broin, PJ McDonnell

UNDER 13

Northend United 1, Chimney Corner 1: It took until the second half before the deadlock was broken when Josh Coates’ shot from distance flew into the top corner after a shot was cleared from Conor McDonald and he coolly slotted it into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

Northend should have added to their tally and they were made to pay for it with Chimney Corner levelling the score with the last kick off the ball after they failed to clear their lines. MOM - Conor McDonald.

Northend: O Connolly, J Givens, C Meeke, C Mc, Donald, J Kirkpatrick, R Gamble, J, Coates, H Wylie, C Forsythe, P Ferris, M, Stewart, C Metrustry, C Killough, M Rainey

Northend 0, Lurgan Town 4: This was a pretty even game and after falling behind in the middle of the first half, Northend took the game to Lurgan Town but their final pass let them down.

During the second half Northend had to shuffle their defence around when Jay Kirkpatrick got injured and Lurgan scored straight away when they were trying to get their defence organised to go two up and they scored two late goals to give them a scoreline that did not reflect the game. MOM - Jay Kirkpatrick.

Northend: O Connolly, J Givens, C Meeke, C Mc, Donald, J Kirkpatrick, R Gamble, J, Coates, M Stewart, C Forsythe, P Ferris, M Rainey, C Metrustry, C Killough.

UNDER-14

Bloomfield 3, Northend United 4: The first ten minutes were very scrappy until Ryan Lorimer released Ruairi Campbell in the inside right position, who broke free and scored but Bloomfield equalised within eight minutes.

Bloomfield had a player sent off shortly before half-time for an off the ball challenge and Conor McGarry put Northend ahead five minutes into the second half.

Bloomfield looked a better side with 10 men rather than 11 and in a very good 15 minutes spell scored two goals to go 3-2 ahead, with ten minutes to go.

But Northend equalised through a Ruairi Campbell penalty after a Bloomfield player handled a Tom Patchett corner. Niall Craig set up Ruairi Campbell to score the winner with minutes to go. MOM - Ruairi Campbell, Robert McCluney

Northend: C Brennan, T McAuley, S Lecky, J Brady, R McCluney, N Craig, R Lorimer, M Willighan, C McGarry, R Campbell, T Patchett, C Gordon, C Fullerton.

Northend 5, Lurgan Town 2: The Ballymena boys fell behind but Conor McGarry dragged Northend back into the match shortly before half-time with a magnificent header.

The introduction of Robert Iovu back into the side at half-time, breathed some life back into this Northend side and within ten minutes Northend had gone 4-1 ahead through goals from Ruairi Campbell, Ryan Lorimer and the best of the lot, a 25 yard cracker from Tom Patchett.

Lorimer added his second to make it 5-1 to Northend before Lurgan Town scored a second goal right at the final whistle. MOM - Ryan Lorimer, Robert Iovu

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

UNDER-15

Northend United 3, Hillsborough Boys 0: The U15s put last week’ disappointing result behind them with a good win over a fancied Hillsborough Boys team.

Kuba Babuszewski gave Northend the lead on twenty minutes.

The ball was worked out of defence down the left hand side where Babuszewski took the ball down and cut inside before unleashing the ball into the top corner of the net.

Northend went looking for a second and it came five minutes before the break. Again Babuszewski was the man on target when from a Jordan Adams corner.

James Hayburn made the points safe for Northend when he fired home a free kick from all of 30 yards with five minutes remaining. Final score 3-0

Northend: J Mark, B Millar, J Hayburn, D Dobbin, A Shaw, J Stevenson, B McGarvey, J Adams, S Hutchinson, G Macartney, J Penny, J Wharry, M Kirk, K Babuszewski, E McLaughlin, R Laverty

UNDER 16

Northend 1, Lisburn Distillery 6: The U16s turned in a below par performance in this game and although missing a few regulars, should have produced a better performance than they did.

Zack Herbison scored a penalty for the Blues in a match they’ll want to forget, as they now look forward to next week’s encounter with Lisburn Rangers.

Northend: L McAfee, O Boyle, L McAllister, R McKenna, J Galbraith, J Houston, T Campbell, J Savage, S Bennett, B Cairns, Z Herbison, C Neilly, M Waide, S Olliver, A Milligan.

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

With three weeks to go until Northend’s Annual Golf Fundraising Day on Sunday 5th October, plans are already well advanced for the big day at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

Tournament organisers, Rodney and Phil aim to build upon the huge success from 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 filling up fast, participants are asked to get in contact with Rodney as soon as possible to reserve a slot in what promises to be another great day’s golf. Contact Rodney: 0774 2075529