Campbell hat-trick not enough to prevent cup exit for Blues

Johnny Sayers U14s finally came back to earth with a bump when a poor last twenty minutes allowed their opponents Lisburn Distillery to score a few goals in an uncharacteristic collapse in the match.

The U10s were again in action on Saturday morning at the Showgrounds when four teams took part in another Mini Blitz, including Ballymoney United and three Northend U10 teams. The Northend United team came out on top against their Ballymoney neighbours in a match that flowed from end to end.

On Friday night the U11s and U12s played a friendly match against each other at the Showgrounds 3G, with the U11s using it for much needed match practice before next weekend’s NIBFA Cup match against Sion Swifts.

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Northend United 3, Ballymoney United 1: Northend kept themselves ticking over during the NWCDYL winter break with a friendly against Ballymoney.

As the first half drew to a close Peter Bristow showed great alertness when he rolled a short corner towards Corey McMillan. The young defender wasted no time in driving home a shot from the edge of the area for his first of the season.

Ballymoney pulled themselves level within two minutes of the re-start when they were quicker to re-act to a breaking ball from a corner kick.

Jack Adams smashed a volley off the crossbar before, with five minutes remaining th,e wee blues got their reward for some excellent football when Corey McMillan leapt above his marker to head an in-swinging corner beyond the keeper.

Within a minute of the re-start Peter Bristow put the game beyond doubt when he beat three players before neatly finishing from a tight angle.

Northend United 5, Northend Youth 2: The second game was against Northend Youth and both sides demonstrated just how far they’ve progressed this season with some excellent football on show.

It was United who took the lead in the opening minute with an early goal from Peter Bristow.

Youth responded immediately when Connor McKillop powered home a header from a corner kick to draw the game level.

Kevin Cosgrove restored United’s lead on the five minute mark with a mazy up-field run and clinical finish.

Owen Campbell extended United’s lead with a well-deserved goal.

As the half drew to a close Peter Bristow was brought down in the goal area and David Magill slotted home the penalty to notch his first goal for the club. Peter Bristow added a fifth for United before the break.

Youth pulled a goal back six minutes into the second half when Jordan McFetridge continued his golden streak with a powerful finish from the edge of the area.

Panel: N Devine, D Magill, K Cosgrove, C McMillan, J Adams, P Bristow and O Campbell.

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Carniny Youth 6, Northend 3 (aet): Northend started the stronger in this local derby NIBFA cup-tie, and went ahead through Ruairi Campbell on four minutes, who was assisted by Tom Patchett.

Carniny equalised, against the run of play, on sixteen minutes, and gradually came into the match.

Two minutes into the second half, a lapse in concentration in the Northend defence let Carniny take the lead for the first time.

Ruairi Campbell however pulled Northend back into the match six minutes later with a superb individual goal.

After working hard to get back into the match, all Northend’s good work was undone yet again, when Carniny broke through to go 2-3 ahead.

Carniny looked to have won the match until Ruairi Campbell was brought down by Carniny’s last defender, when clean through in second half injury-time. Campbell despatched the spot-kick to level the scores to take the match to injury-time.

Carniny took the lead just before half-time in extra-time, when a Northend bye-ball went straight to the feet of a Carniny forward, who took advantage and scored. Carniny scored two more goals, in the last six minutes of extra-time.MOM - Ruairi Campbell.

Northend: C Brennan, S Frew (c), S Lecky, R McCluney, J Mitchell, R Iovu, M Willighan, T Patchett, C McGarry, T McAuley, R Campbell, C Gordon, N Craig, J Brady, P Kyle, C McDonald.

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Lisburn Distillery 6, Northend 0: The scoreline certainly doesn’t reflect the nature of this game with the Blues not making their authority count when on top and paying up for it with a poor second half showing.

Distillery started this match strongly and went on to score the first goal after ten minutes when the Northend defence was caught napping.

Graeme Macartney should have drawn Northend level when an excellent Campbell throughball left him with only the keeper to beat but unfortunately the keeper came out on top.

Northend kept pressing Distillery and they should have equalised before half time when the Distillery keeper brought off a great save from a Macartney shot. Half time score 1-0

Into the second and Distillery started like a team on fire and laid siege to the Northend defence and after 11 minutes when the Distillery striker scored their second with a well struck shot.

Graeme Macartney was unfortunate when he just steered the ball wide of the Distillery upright, following a Northend corner. However this proved to be the end of the Northend fightback as Distillery went on to dominate for the remaining 20 minutes of the match and they ran in four goals against a Blues team who offered little towards the end. MOM - Josh Mark.

Northend: J Mark, T Evans, J Hayburn, A Shaw, A O’Boyle, S Hutchinson, , K Babuszewski, D Bell, B Millar, A Campbell, G Macartney, M Kirk L McLean, J Wharry

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Northend United’s Football Development Centre returns again on Friday 24th January at its indoor venue of the Ballymena North Centre from 6-7.30pm.for boys and girls aged 4-10 inclusive.

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

PLAYERS WANTED

With the transfer window rapidly approaching an end on 31st January, Northend United and Wakehurst Youth are on the lookout for players and coaches to add to their teams.

If you were born between 1997 and 2006 and are interested in playing competitive football in either the National League, the Lisburn Youth League or the North West and Coleraine and District Youth League, get in contact with the following Managers: U8s (2006) Ally McGarry 07779005441; U9s (2005) John Devlin 07919056834; U10s (2004) Robert Adams 07766257645; U11s (2003) David Wylie 07792887435; U12s (2002) Conor Connelly 07713269897; U13s (2001) Mark Lecky 07792887435, U14s (2000) Johnny Sayers 07563854345; U15s (1999) Mark Herbison 07850669727; U17s (1997) Glenn Speirs 07799895213.