Northend boys give of their 'Best'

Missing a few of their regular players due to holiday commitments, Northend had a few guests in their panel for this tournament.

With the opening ceremony on Thursday evening, play commenced on Friday and Saturday and featured many teams from the Southern Ireland as well as local clubs from throughout Northern Ireland.

In what was an excellent pre-season tournament, Northend United won many fans with their passing play and managed to beat top Dublin side St. Patrick's Athletic along the way.

Northend United 4, Ballybrack Boys Dublin 2: Dublin side Ballybrack Boys caught Northend on the break and opened the scoring midway through the half and they added a second before the interval.

Northend started off the second half again playing some excellent passing and it was no surprise when Connor Pogue opened their account.

Thomas Brady levelled the score with a fine goal, racing through from midfield to chip the ball over the keeper.

In a frantic last ten minutes, Matthew Wright gave Northend the lead when he beat the keeper at his near post with a well drilled shot and Ryan Gault sealed a Northend victory when he scored the fourth goal, again with a shot from the edge of the area. MOM: Jamie Speirs

Northend United 4 St Patricks Athletic 1: Northend went into this game against the top Dublin side, full of confidence following their opening victory and Thomas Brady opened the scoring when he raced through from midfield and beat the keeper with a pile driver.

David Bradley doubled the scoring, when he found himself on the end of a Connor Pogue pass and easily beat the keeper.

Northend continued to pile on the pressure and Bradley scored his second goal of the game in a carbon copy of the first, when he again raced clear of the St. Pats defence and easily beat the keeper with a low shot.

In a half where Northend dominated, St Pats's caught them on the break and scored a goal to reduce the score to 3-1 in Northend's favour.

Before the end of the first half, Thomas Brady, who was having a fine game scored another goal with a thunderous shot from 25 to give Northend a 4-1 lead and the result remained that way to ensure Northend progressed to the quarter-finals. MOM: Thomas Brady.

Northend United 1, Armagh City 2: In their third match of the day, a tired looking Northend United played Mid-Ulster League champions Armagh City.

After a scoreless first half, some fine passing play between Jordan Donnelly, Matthew Wright and Jamie Speirs enabled Jamie to beat the Armagh keeper with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Armagh didn't lie down and came back at Northend and in a frantic last eight minutes scored two goals from high balls into the box with eluded the Northend keeper and ended up in the net, to leave the score 2-1.

Northend United 0, Loudres Celtic 5: Northend were paired in the quarter finals on Saturday against the tournament's previous season winners, top Dublin boys club, Loudres Celtic, a feeder club for Cardiff City.

With the loss of influential captain, Jamie Speirs, before the game commenced, this was always going to be an uphill battle.

The scoreline that does not reflect the true outcome of the game, three of the goals coming in the last ten minutes. MOM: Kyle Crawford

Tournament Panel: Niall Shannon, Ross Swan, Cameron Waring, Stefan McLees, Kyle Crawford, Thomas Brady, Jamie Speirs, Ciaran Quigg, Dylan Hamill, David Bradley, Shea McMath, Connor Pogue, Matthew Wright, Ryan Gault, Caolan Tierney, Jordan Donnelly, Brendan O'Mullan.

PRE-SEASON TRAINING

Northend United Youth are pleased to announce the formation of their new U10 team for boys born in 2001, which will play in the Belfast and East Antrim Invitational Youth League, commencing in September 2010.

This latest addition gives Northend United Youth their sixth team for the 2010/11 football season.

Teams from U10 to U14 age groups will play in the Belfast and East Antrim Invitational Youth League and the U15 team will play in the South Belfast Youth League.

As always, Northend would encourage anyone interested in playing in these teams to come along to pre-season training where an open door policy is always maintained.

If interested in playing or coaching, please contact the following Team Managers: U10s 2001 - Paul 07725031574; U11s 2000 - John 07919056834; U12s 1999 - Mark 07850669727; U13s 1998 - Timmy 07516366913; U14s 1997 - Stephen 07764209408 or Glen 07799895213; U15s 1996 - Johnny 07837397904

Pre –season training commences as follows:

U10s 2001s Wed 28th July Dunfane Pitch 1 7–8.30pm

U11s 2000s Mon 26th July Dunfane Pitch 1 7–8.30pm

U12s 1999s Mon 26th July Showgrounds Pitch 3 6.30–8pm

U13s 1998s Mon 26th July Dunfane Pitch 1 7–8.30pm

U14s 1997s Mon 26th July Showgrounds Pitch 3 7.30–9pm

U15s 1996s Mon 26th July Showgrounds Pitch 3 7.30–9pm.