Wakehurst under-17s claim point on return to action

The U13s also earned a draw with Loughgall United, last season’s League Champions in the Lisburn League, in a game where the Ballymena Blues stormed to a two goal lead before allowing Loughgall back into the game with two second half goals.

Also in the Lisburn League, the U14s lost their match against Willowbank by the odd goal in five.

Elsewhere the weather played havoc with the weekend fixtures with the U15s National League match against Ballymoor cancelled and the U8 and U10 Mini Soccer Blitz at the Ballymena Showgrounds called off due to the conditions.

UNDER-13

Loughgall Youth 2, Northend 2: Having only trained once since their last fixture, 3 weeks ago, this was always going to be a tricky fixture for this ever-improving Northend side.

Both sides were probably level in terms of early possession, but Northend were much better and more threatening in the last third. This proved evident when Tom Patchett slid through top scorer, Ruairi Campbell, on eight minutes, who passed the ball, past the Loughgall keeper, into the net from 12 yards out.

It was only a matter of time before Northend scored again. Again Tom Patchett released Ruairi Campbell on the left who scored an almost identical goal to put Northend two goals up.

Like all good sides, Loughgall regrouped at half - time and came out determined to get back into the match. They pushed forward in droves, sometimes only leaving two/three men at the back and pulled one back nine minutes into the second half, when a clearance from Northend was punted straight back into their box from far out by a Loughgall defender, with the smallest Loughgall player on the pitch, deflecting a header into the corner of the net.

Loughgall equalised with ten minutes to go, and then the match became wide open, until the final whistle.

The best chance of the game fell to Northend’s Ruairi Campbell with five minutes remaining, who after being put clean through on goal by Matthew Willighan, unfortunately took a heavy touch, just as he bore down on goal.

MOM - Robert McCluney, Stuart Lecky, Conor McGarry

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

UNDER-14

Willowbank 3, Northend 2: Willowbank started the strongest team with Northend showing signs of tiredness following the Christmas break. Willowbank took the lead after four minutes when a cross into the Northend box was not properly cleared and the Willowbank striker planted the ball into the bottom corner of the net past the advancing Josh Mark.

This goal visibly gave Willowbank confidence and on 18 minutes they scored their second goal when their winger ran down the wing and crossed the ball into the Northend penalty box where again it wasn’t dealt with and the Willowbank striker prodded the ball into the net from six yards.

Northend pulled a goal back after 12 minutes of the second half following a great throughball from Daniel Bell to Graeme Macartney who turned his marker and planted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

The Ballymena Blues scored their second goal minutes later when Brandon Millar beat two defenders before placing the ball into the bottom corner of the Willowbank net, leaving the score evenly tied at 2-2.

Just as it looked like Northend might go on and take all the points in this match, a poor Northend tackle allowed the Willowbank striker to get out of his half and race clear of the Blues defence, and he ran on and slipped the ball past the advancing Josh Mark to give Willowbank the lead.

MOM - Sam Hutchinson.

Northend: J Marks, H McClurkin, A O’Boyle, A Shaw, D Dobbin, S Hutchinson, J Stevenson, D Bell, B Millar, A Campbell, G Macartney, K Babuszewski, J Hayburn, M Kirk, J Wharry.

UNDER-17

Coleraine 1, Wakehurst 1: Wakehurst travelled to Coleraine on Friday night to play a much changed Coleraine team and can feel aggrieved they didn’t get all the points in this encounter.

Coleraine took the lead on fifteen minutes when a long clearance upfield stretched the Wakehurst defence and allowed their striker to control the ball an slip it past the advancing Aodhan Tolan in the Wakehurst nets.

Just when it was looking like another one of those nights, Anthony McAvoy picked up the ball in midfield, evaded two tackles and unleashed an unstoppable shot from all of thirty yards which flew into the top corner of the Coleraine net - a real goal of the season contender.

Manager Glenn Speirs was disappointed not to take all the points with a number of second half chances going abegging and he will look to strengthen his attack in the transfer window.

Wakehurst: A Tolan, J Hanlon, M Laverty, K McCollum, N Swann (c), J Cameron, J Speirs, R Gault, T Brady, K Jackson, S Hare, A McAvoy, R Swan, L Scroggie

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS

Continuing on with a long tradition of competing in National Football Tournaments, plans are already at an advanced stage for taking a number of the younger Northend United teams to a football tournament in Scotland during the May-Day weekend.

COACHES/COMMITTEE MEETING

A full meeting of coaches and committee is planned for Tuesday 7th January 7.00pm at the Michelin Club. All teams must be represented.

GOLF FUNDRAISING DAY

Sunday 30th March 2014 is the day of the eagerly awaited Northend United Youth Golf Fundraising Day being held in Galgorm Castle Golf Club. Watch this space for more details as the weeks unfold in the run-up to this event.

PLAYERS WANTED

With the transfer window open in 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 Elite National League, the Lisburn Youth League or the North West and Coleraine and District Youth League, get in contact with the following team 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.