In a thrilling cup encounter at Adams Park, Millisle, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds emerged victorious against Mossley 2nds with a final score of 5-3. The match, held on 8th February 2025, kicked off at 1:30pm, showcasing a display of attacking football and resilience from both sides.
Abbey Villa adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which allowed them to utilise width and maintain a strong presence in midfield. James Boyd occupied the goalkeeping position, shielded by a back four comprising James Edwards and Curtis Williamson as right and left defenders respectively, with Matthew Edwards and Alan Strain forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Marcus McGrath played on the right, while Jake Rainey and Daniel McFarland operated centrally and on the left respectively. Up front, Mark Gilliland led the line on the right, with Mathew Burke as the central striker and Kyle Irwin on the left, providing pace and creativity.
The substitutes for Abbey Villa included Thomas Drysdale, who would later be called upon due to an injury.
The match began with Abbey Villa asserting their dominance early on. In the 18th minute, Kyle Irwin opened the scoring with a well-placed finish following a precise cross from Mark Gilliland. This team move set the tone for Abbey Villa's attacking intent. Just eight minutes later, Gilliland turned scorer himself, converting a cross from Irwin to double the lead, showcasing their effective interplay.
As the first half progressed, Abbey Villa continued to press, with Irwin coming close again in the 33rd minute, but his attempt was saved. However, Gilliland was not to be denied, as he netted his second goal in the 38th minute, capitalising on a short pass from Daniel McFarland, demonstrating his clinical finishing ability.
Mossley managed to pull one back just before half-time, scoring from close range in the 40th minute, but Abbey Villa went into the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead.
The second half began with a flurry of activity. Just five minutes in, Jake Rainey received a yellow card for a bad tackle, a sign of the physical nature of the contest. Shortly after, Mossley capitalised on a goalmouth scramble to score their second goal in the 51st minute, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 and igniting hopes of a comeback.
Abbey Villa responded in style; Mathew Burke scored a stunning solo goal in the 56th minute, showcasing his skill and determination to restore the two-goal cushion. The match took a turn in the 65th minute when Rainey was substituted due to injury, with Thomas Drysdale stepping onto the pitch.
As the game continued, Marcus McGrath received a yellow card in the 66th minute for another bad tackle, reflecting the increasing tension on the pitch. The physicality was matched by Mossley, who also found themselves in the referee's book for a bad tackle in the 75th minute.
In the 80th minute, Mark Gilliland completed his hat-trick with a close-range goal from a corner taken by Curtis Williamson, extending Abbey Villa's lead to 5-2. However, Mossley refused to give in and capitalised on a defensive mistake to score their third goal in the 82nd minute, keeping the match alive at 5-3.
As the match drew to a close, Daniel McFarland and Thomas Drysdale both had attempts to increase Abbey Villa's lead, but their efforts were either wide or saved. The referee, Stephen McAlees, brought the match to an end, sealing a memorable victory for Abbey Villa F.C 2nds, who will take great confidence into their next fixture. Mark Gilliland's performance was particularly noteworthy, earning him the accolade of Man of the Match for his hat-trick and overall influence on the game.
A special mention goes to James Boyd, who stepped into goal for the day, due to a goalkeeper crisis at the club this weekend. What a performance from Boydy. He was excellent on the day.??????