In a gripping league encounter at The Cliff on 10 April 2025, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds secured a hard-fought victory over Crumlin Star 2nds, finishing the match with a scoreline of 2-1. The match kicked off at 7:30pm and showcased a blend of tactical prowess and individual brilliance from both sides.
Abbey Villa adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which saw Ross Murray stationed in goal, flanked by a defensive line comprising James Edwards and Curtis Shannon as right and left defenders respectively, with Joshua Colville and Matthew Edwards forming the central defence. The midfield trio featured Louis Gault-Reid on the right, Marcus McGrath centrally, and Jimbo King on the left, while the attacking front three consisted of Mark Gilliland on the right, Carson Mann as the central striker, and Daniel McFarland on the left. This formation aimed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for quick transitions into attack, with the wingers expected to stretch the opposition's backline.
The substitutes for Abbey Villa included James Boyd, Jake Rainey, and Thomas Drysdale, who were poised to make an impact from the bench as the match progressed.
The first significant action came in the 20th minute when Carson Mann attempted to break the deadlock, but his effort went wide of the target. Just four minutes later, Ross Murray showcased his goalkeeping skills with a full-stretch save, denying Crumlin Star a certain goal and keeping Villa in the game.
Villa were then turned down a stone wall penalty appeal, when Carson Mann pulled the ball down in the box and was then clipped across the shin. The whole of Larne could hear the contact, but no penalty was awarded! ??
However, worse was to follow for Villa, when a dubious decision was made to award Crumlin Star a corner in the 30th minute, which they took the lead from, with a goal direct from the corner kick, leaving Villa trailing 1-0.
As the first half drew to a close, Villa found themselves needing to regroup and strategise during the half-time break, trailing by a single goal.
The second half commenced with Villa looking to assert themselves, and Daniel McFarland had a chance in the 51st minute, but his shot also went wide. The pressure continued to mount, and James Edwards had a go in the 66th minute, but his attempt sailed high over the bar.
In a tactical move and to freshen things up, Villa made their first substitution in the 68th minute, bringing on James Boyd for Mark Gilliland. This was followed by Jake Rainey replacing Louis Gault-Reid in the 71st minute, as Villa sought to inject fresh energy into their midfield.
The third substitution saw Thomas Drysdale come on for Carson Mann in the 73rd minute, as Villa pushed for an equaliser. Despite their efforts, James Edwards had another chance in the 80th minute that went wide, and Ross Murray was called into action again in the 82nd minute, making a crucial tip over the bar to keep Abbey Villa in contention.
As the match approached its final moments, Daniel McFarland tested the Crumlin Star goalkeeper with a saved attempt in the 86th minute after an outrageous piece of skill, but Villa's frustration continued as Thomas Drysdale's effort in the 89th minute also went wide.
Despite the relentless pressure and numerous attempts, Villa could not find the equaliser, and the match ended with Crumlin Star securing a narrow victory. Ross Murray's performance in goal was particularly commendable, earning him the accolade of Man of the Match for his crucial saves that kept Abbey Villa in the contest until the final whistle. Though special mentions to Matty Edwards, Daniel McFarland & Joshua Colville, who had stand out performances also, along with young Jimbo King in midfield.
