BLUES COMPLETE ‘TREBLE’

This trophy complements the League and Knock-Out Cup trophies the team have already won in recent weeks.

Manager Glenn Speirs stated: “It has been a long season, starting with winning the Rose bowl in the Foyle Cup last July but the Boys have really shown spirit and determination and the treble is a just reward for all their efforts”

Performance of the Week goes to Johnny Sayers U16s who beat Irish League Academy Side, Carrick Rangers, in the Belfast and East Antrim Plate Final 4-2 after extra time last Monday night.

Elsewhere, the U11s drew 0-0 with Ballyclare Colts on Monday night and this was enough to take them through to their Shield Final.

The U11s returned to League action on Saturday and they comprehensively beat Willowbank 7-1 as they strive to complete a League and Shield double in their first season in the Belfast and East Antrim League.

The U12s were also involved in two games this week, both League matches, wherein they lost to Antrim Rovers in midweek and drew with Ballyclare Colts on Saturday.

Mark Herbison’s U13s played two Shield matches this week, winning one and losing one.

In the Coleraine and District League, The Baby Blues U9s lost to the older and bigger Oakfield U10s 4-0

In the George Best Youth League, Danny Mitchell’s Wee Blues lost to Hillsborough Boys 2-0 at the Grove Pitches in North Belfast on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

The FDC boys and girls are looking forward to the commencement of the McDonalds Mini Soccer League for children in P1 and P2 which starts on Saturday 5th May at the Ballymena Showgrounds.

Northend will have teams at all age groups and are training every Friday night at the Ballymena Showgrounds Pitch 3 from 6.15pm to 7.45pm. Anyone who would like to join the FDC please contact John on 07919056834 or Steven on 07801108207

UNDER 9

Oakfield 4, Northend 0: The Baby Blues came up against a bigger and stronger U10 team Oakfield from Derry City on Saturday and struggled in the first half of the match before turning in a super second half performance.

Northend: E McSparran, C McCarroll, F McQuillan, P Ferris, C McKillop (c), O O’Mullan, C Metrustry, C Kilgore, J Adams.

UNDER 10

Hillsborough Boys 2, Northend 0: Northend went down to two first half goals in this midweek match. MOM - Sean Higgins.

Northend: S Higgins, J Coates, A Griffin, O Connelly (c), R Lennon, J Scullion, M Stewart, E Fisher, D Kyle, J Givens, F Andrews.

UNDER 11

Northend 0, Ballyclare Colts 0: Despite not beating Ballyclare for the first time in four meetings this season, the draw was still enough for Northend to book their place in the Shield final. MOM - Robert McCluney.

Northend: L McAfee, M Willighan, R McCluney, S McCusker, E Hynds, S McKay, C Meneely, R Campbell, S Sempey, C McGarry (c), R McGaughey, S Lecky, P Kyle, T McDowall, J Mitchell

Willowbank 1, Northend 7: Northend were caught sleeping when Willowbank went ahead just two minutes into the match.

Northend gradually came into the match and it took three great finishes, one of them a retaken penalty from Robbie McGaughey to kickstart Northend’s race for the title again.

The best goal of the match involved three players, two passes and one shot. A goal kick was controlled by Conor McGarry on the left, then passed inside to Eoin Hynds. Eoin Hynds hit a simple first time pass wide left to Scott Sempey, who easily slipped past the Willowbank right back, ran clean through and passed the ball into the corner of the net.

Both Robbie McGaughey and Scott Sempey scored another goal each, both finishing in great style to put the score at 1: 6. The final goal of the match came from a Josh Mitchell header. MOM - Robert McCluney.

Northend: L McAfee, M Willighan, E Hynds, R McCluney (c), S McCusker, S McKay, R Campbell, C Meneely, S Sempey, C McGarry, R McGaughey, P Kyle, S Lecky, T McDowall, J Mitchell.

UNDER 12

Antrim Rovers 4, Northend 1: This was a below par performance from Northend that saw them go 2-0 down in the first half of this match. Antrim raced to a 3-0 lead early in the second half before Daniel Bell scored the goal of the game when he was on hand to beat the Antrim keeper with a good shot.

However the Blues failed to capitalise on this opportunity against Antrim and allowed them to go on and score another goal.

Northend: J Mark, B Millar, A Shaw, J Stock, A Campbell (c), J Adams, K Babuszewski, D Dobbin, J Hayburn, D Bell, T Evans, J O’Loughlin, J Stevenson, M Kirk, G McCartney.

Ballyclare Colts 1, Northend 1: Ballyclare took the lead in the first half and held the lead until half time.

Northend came out the stronger team in the second half and equalised midway through the half when Matthew Kirk scored from close range after the keeper had only parried James Hayburn’s excellent cross. MOM - James Hayburn.

Northend: J Mark, B Millar, A Shaw, D Dobbin, J Stevenson, J Adams, K Babuszewski, D Bell, J Hayburn, M Kirk, G McCartney, T Evans, J O’Loughlin.

UNDER 13

Northend 8, Larne Youth 2: Northend took an early lead when a cross from Conor Graham fell to Harry McNally in the box but his shot rebounded back off the post but Zack Herbison was quickest to react and lash the ball into the net.

Herbison soon turned provider for Johnston Kirkpatrick to blast the ball home to put the Blues 2-0 up. Kirkpatrick added a third just before half time this time McNally flicking the ball too the big man and he gave the keeper no chance.

The Blues extended their lead five minutes after the break when Philip Maybin hit an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box past the keeper.

Harry McNally took on his man and crossed the ball from the bye-line for Kirkpatrick to hammer in for his hat-trick and Northend’s fifth.

Larne kept going and scored next, but this didn’t hinder the Blues and Maybin picked out Milligan who shot past the Larne keeper for the Blues’ sixth.

Larne’s heads still didn’t drop and they went upfield to score their second. This spurred the Blues on again and when Herbison played the ball over for Milligan he stuck away his second of the day. More was to come from Milligan who popped up five minutes from time to hammer home Northend’s eighth and complete his first hat-trick for Northend. MOM - A Milligan.

Northend: A O’Neill, R McKenna, A Milligan, R Dennison, J Galbraith, P Maybin, C Graham(c), H McNally, J Kirkpatrick, Z Herbison, S Olliver, J Todd, O Boyle.

Northend 2, Newington 4: Eventually the Blues did get a bit of their passing game together and after 20 minutes opened the scoring. Johnston Kirkpatrick won the ball and laid it off to Zack Herbison who burst through the middle before blasting the ball past the keeper.

Five minutes later they doubled their lead when a corner floated over by Philip Maybin beat everyone except Herbison who headed the ball goalwards and the big defender on the line couldn’t manage to keep the ball out. Just before the half time whistle Newington pulled a goal back.

Newington came out the second half in confident mood and with the wind at their backs put Northend on the back foot from the kick off and eventually ran out 4-2 winners. MOM - Zack Herbison

Northend: E Elliott, R Dennison, R McKenna, C McHugh, J Galbraith, P Maybin, C Graham(c), S Olliver, J Kirkpatrick, Z Herbison, A Milligan, H McNally, J Todd, O Boyle, K Gibson, A O’Neill.

UNDER 15s

Southside Youths 2, Northend 3: The Northend Blues completed a unique BEAIYL League, Cup and Shield Treble on Monday Night when they defeated local derby rivals, Southside.

On 15 minutes, a high ball into the Northend box deceived everyone and ended up in the top corner of the Northend net, giving Southside a 1-0 lead.

Worse was to follow for Northend when ten minutes later a corner was conceded. Some slack marking by Northend allowed the Southside striker to get on the end of the ball and head home past Richard Sloan.

However Northend began to regain their grip on the game and Stephen Hare and Anthony McAvoy were involved in some good play before Jamie Speirs played an excellent through ball to Keith Hall. The big Northend striker outpaced his marker and fired a great shot past the Southside keeper, to leave the score 2-1.

Northend went on to dominate the second half and a superb throughball from Jamie Speirs released Anthony McAvoy down the Northend right wing. As he ran from almost the half way line, his pinpoint cross was met by the ever alert Stephen Hare to head the ball into the Southside net to leave the score 2-2.

With only five minutes of normal time remaining, Bryan Etherson was fouled inside he Southside box and the referee awarded a penalty. Keith Hall steeped up to take the penalty and scored to send the Northend team wild with excitement. MOM - Bryan Etherson.

Northend: R Sloan, J Hanlon, B O’Neill, R Swan, M Laverty, A McAvoy, N Swann, J Speirs (c), B Etherson, S Hare, K Hall, T Brady, R Gault, A O’Donnell, N Shannon

UNDER 16

Carrick Rangers 2, Northend 4: Northend got off to a slow start in this Plate final and found themselves a goal down after two minutes.

Northend drew before half time when Emmet Kerr was on hand to strike the ball into the bottom corner of the Carrick net from a goalmouth scramble.

Carrick were awarded a penalty after ten minutes of the half and their striker made no mistake.

With three minutes of normal time remaining, a high ball into the Carrick box was met with a great header from substitute Rory Kinney, beating the Carrick keeper to send the game into extra time.

Emmet Kerr put Northend ahead in the first period of extra time when he scored a good goal.

The Northend players sensed a win was within their grasp and Tony Sloan proved an inspired substitution when he outpaced the Carrick defence and slipped the ball past the Carrick keeper to leave the final score 4-2 to the Ballymena Boys. MOM - David O’Brien.

Northend: D Little, R Douds, L Kirk, M King, G Williams, M Kirk, E Kerr(c), C Dunne, C Ferris, D O’Brien, S Cunningham, M Robinson, T Sloan, G Murphy, R Kinney, R Kennedy