Northend under-13s keep up chase for top four finish

It was a welcome return to action for the U17s after a number of weeks lay-off and they will count themselves as unlucky not to take all the points against Newry City. Elsewhere, the U14s and U16s lost their matches against Willowbank and Carrick Rangers respectively. The U11s gained a well earned draw with Newry side Windmill in an end to end game, while Robert Adams’ U12 team lost narrowly to Chimney Corner. Brian Martin’s U12s Youth team were back in action against Draperstown Celtic and came away with a creditable 1-1 draw, UNDER-9 Northend United U9s boys and girls are really enjoying their football at present and followed up recent good wins over Bertie Peacocks by turning in another top performance this week against Ballymoney United Colts. Northend: Calvin Termonia, Robert Crooks, Mark Campbell, Clodagh Maguire, Lewis McDonald, Luke Campbell, Dylan Patterson UNDER-11 Northend United 2, Windmill 2: Northend went in front on 10 minutes when Stevie Bristow played a long ball over the top and when the Windmill defender made a mess of the clearance Jay McKeown made no mistake as he nipped in to smash the ball right footed into the back of the net to make it 1-0 on ten minutes. Bristow again played a long ball over the top which found its way through to Billy Bell to race clear and finish left footed into the bottom corner to make it 2-0. Windmill got a fortunate goal back early in the second half when a slack defensive clearance found its way to their striker and his shot got a deflection to leave McClean no chance. Ben Adams nipped in to win the ball and played if forward to the superb Bell who crossed for McKeown. His shot was saved and the rebound fell to Shea O’Broin but the keeper managed to keep his header out as well. Northend were dealt a sucker punch when they conceded a soft goal for Windmill to draw level but they didn’t give up on finding a winner as a McKeown was well saved. Northend: G McClean, B Adams, Z Erwin, B O’Neill, S Bristow, S O’Broin, J McKeown, K Wakefield, B Bell, J Magill UNDER-12 Northend Youth 1, Draperstown Celtic 1: After a scoreless first half, a bad kick out from the Draperstown keeper was punished by Caolan Lennon and he smashed home the opener from 20 yards. Northend kept up the pressure and a shot from Niall Devine came crashing off the bar. With nearly the last kick off the ball Draperstown equalised after a wicked deflection caught out Darragh Killough in goals to share the points. Northend: D Killough, G Farias, J Connor, A Pescaru, S Crawford, N Devine, C Lennon, C Martin, B Harkin Northend United 0, Chimney Corner 2: After Northend missed a number of chances, Chimney Corner took the lead with ten minutes remaining when Northend tried to over play the ball in the middle of the pitch. As the Blues went in search of the equaliser Chimney Corner scored their second with a couple of minutes remaining. Northend: C Wilson, D Mc Kay, J Adams, D Magill, O Campbell, K Cosgrove, P Bristow, L Hector, K Barr, S McDowell and C McMurray. UNDER-13 Northend United 6, Glenavy 2: Against the run of play Glenavy took an early lead after an attack on their left hand side. Northend quickly got back on level terms through Patrick Ferris. Conor McGaughey made it 2-1 when he followed up from Patrick Ferris lob that came off the bar. Soon after it was 3-1 Northend’s 3rd goal came from Jamie Montgomery who raced onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and smashed it past the keeper. Glenavy started the second half with a good goal but it was soon 4-2 scored by Lewis Steele. The fifth came Adam Campbell and the sixth was an own goal. Northend: J Morrow, J Montgomery, H Wylie, A Campbell, C Campbell, P Ferris, J Casey, L Steele, C McGaughey, P Esler, R McQuillan. UNDER-17 Newry City 1, Wakehurst 1: Another encouraging performance from Wakehurst and one they will feel they should have got more from. After a slow start to the second half, Wakehurst took the lead 10 minutes after half time when a long range long into the top right corner of the net giving the keeper no chance. With only minutes to spare Newry scored their equaliser from a free kick giving Wakehurst no time to find a winner. Wakehurst: J Stevenson, J Dawson, J Lowry, A Milligan, J Smyth, S Bennett, M Thompson, C Neilly, M Cochrane, O Dick, J Anderson