In a commanding display at Adams Park, Millisle, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds secured a resounding 5-1 victory over East Belfast 2nds in their league encounter on 15 March 2025. The match kicked off at 2:00pm, and the home side showcased their dominance throughout the 90 minutes, leaving their opponents struggling to keep pace.
Abbey Villa adopted a 3-5-2 formation, which allowed them to control the midfield while providing width through their wing-backs. Ross Murray was stationed in goal, with a back three comprising Joshua Colville, Matthew Edwards, and Curtis Shannon. The midfield was anchored by Jimbo King, Marcus McGrath, and Mathew Burke, while James Edwards and Curtis Williamson operated as the right and left midfielders respectively. Up front, Thomas Drysdale and Kyle Irwin formed a dynamic partnership, tasked with leading the attack and converting chances into goals.
The substitutes for Abbey Villa included Carson Mann, Paul Mulholland, and Andrew Pitman, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The first real chance of the game fell to Kyle Irwin in the 12th minute, but his effort was saved, signalling Abbey Villa's intent early on. Just nine minutes later, Jimbo King had a similar fate as his shot was also thwarted by the East Belfast goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when James Edwards found the back of the net, converting a well-placed pass from Thomas Drysdale inside the box. This goal ignited the home side and set the tone for the remainder of the half.
As the first half drew to a close, East Belfast received a yellow card for dissent in the 34th minute, reflecting their frustration at being unable to contain Abbey Villa's attacking prowess. The half-time whistle blew shortly after, with Abbey Villa leading 1-0.
The second half commenced with a substitution for Abbey Villa, as Carson Mann replaced the injured Curtis Shannon just after the restart. Mann wasted no time in making an impact, scoring a header in the 54th minute from a cross delivered by Kyle Irwin, doubling the home side's lead.
East Belfast's woes continued as they received another yellow card for a bad tackle in the 61st minute. Shortly thereafter, Mathew Burke was cautioned for persistent infringements in the 63rd minute, further compounding the visitors' difficulties.
Carson Mann struck again in the 65th minute, this time netting his second goal with a right-footed shot inside the box, assisted by Jimbo King. The scoreline now read 3-0, and Abbey Villa appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory.
East Belfast's frustrations boiled over as they received yet another yellow card for a bad tackle in the 68th minute, followed by a further caution for dissent in the 70th minute. The visitors were clearly struggling to cope with Abbey Villa's relentless pressure.
In the 71st minute, Paul Mulholland entered the fray, replacing Thomas Drysdale, who had also succumbed to injury. Mulholland would make his mark on the game, scoring in the 80th minute with a right-footed finish from inside the box, assisted by another cross from Kyle Irwin.
Despite being down 4-0, East Belfast managed to pull one back in the 83rd minute through a scrappy goal in a goalmouth scramble, giving them a glimmer of hope. However, Abbey Villa responded immediately, with Kyle Irwin sealing the victory in the 90th minute, scoring with his left foot from a cross delivered by Matthew Edwards after an exceptional break down the left.
As the match entered injury time, East Belfast received yet another yellow card for dissent, highlighting their frustration throughout the encounter. The final whistle blew with Abbey Villa F.C 2nds emerging victorious with a comprehensive 5-1 scoreline, a testament to their attacking prowess and tactical superiority on the day. Jimbo King was rightly recognised as the standout performer, orchestrating play from midfield and contributing significantly to the team's success.
