Abbey Villa F.C 2nds faced off against Crewe United U23's in a cup away match at Crewe Park on 14 December 2024, with the visitors emerging victorious with a resounding 5-0 scoreline. The match kicked off at 1:30pm, and the result showcased Abbey Villa's dominance throughout the encounter.
The Abbey Villa side lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, which allowed them to utilise their attacking prowess while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Ross Murray took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising James Edwards and Curtis Shannon as right and left defenders respectively, with Matthew Edwards and Louis Gault-Reid occupying the central defensive roles. In midfield, Marcus McGrath operated centrally, flanked by James Boyd on the right and Curtis Williamson on the left, while the forward line featured Carson Mann on the right, Mathew Burke as the central striker, and Kyle Irwin on the left.
Substitutes for Abbey Villa included Paul Mulholland, Mark Gilliland, and Jude Strain, providing options for tactical adjustments as the match progressed.
The match began with a flurry of action, and it was just ten minutes in that Louis Gault-Reid received a yellow card for dissent, setting an early tone for the contest. However, Abbey Villa quickly responded, with Carson Mann scoring the opening goal just a minute later, finishing from close range after a well-placed assist from Kyle Irwin.
In the 24th minute, Mann's promising start was cut short due to a shoulder injury, leading to Paul Mulholland's introduction. Unfortunately for Mulholland, he too then found himself in the referee's book, receiving a yellow card for unsporting behaviour shortly after entering the fray.
As the first half drew to a close though, Abbey Villa extended their lead when Mulholland converted a penalty in the 40th minute, following a foul that had been awarded to the team. This goal sent the visitors into the break with a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
The second half unfortunately saw Gault-Reid receive a second yellow card for unsporting behaviour just 15 minutes in, which ultimately led to his dismissal after recieving a red card. With Villa now a man down, they had to dig deep for a bit.
In the 65th minute, James Boyd was substituted for Mark Gilliland as Abbey Villa looked to regain their control of the game. The visitors continued to press, and their efforts bore fruit in the 75th minute when James Edwards scored with a powerful header from a corner delivered by Kyle Irwin, pushing the score to 3-0.
Shortly after, Jude Strain replaced Mulholland, and the substitutions proved effective as Strain assisted Kyle Irwin, who scored another header in the 82nd minute, after a long throw, extending the lead to 4-0.
As the match neared its conclusion, Curtis Williamson capped off an impressive team performance with a spectacular goal from outside the box, picking up a short pass from Marcus McGrath in the 89th minute, he opened up his stance and smashed his effort in from 25 yards, sealing a comprehensive 5-0 victory for Abbey Villa.???????
Marcus McGrath was instrumental throughout the match, contributing significantly to both the midfield play and the attacking thrust, earning him the accolade of Man of the Match. Abbey Villa's emphatic win not only highlighted their attacking capabilities but also showcased their defensive resilience, setting a positive tone for the remainder of their cup campaign. ??
Kyle Irwin also put in a fantastic performance on the day, with a goal and 2 assists.??
