In a commanding display at Adams Park, Millisle, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds triumphed over Woodvale F.C 2nds with a resounding 4-1 victory on 1st February 2025. The match kicked off at 2:00pm, and the home side's performance was nothing short of impressive, showcasing their attacking prowess and solid defensive organisation throughout the encounter.
Abbey Villa adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which allowed them to utilise their attacking talents effectively. Ben McConkey stood guard in goal, while a back four comprised of James Edwards on the right, Matthew Edwards and Jake Rainey in central defence, and Curtis Williamson on the left provided a sturdy defensive foundation. In midfield, Daniel McFarland operated on the right, Casey Courtney took up a central role, and Daniel Beach was positioned on the left. Up front, Jake Wilson played on the right wing, Mathew Burke led the line as the striker, and Kyle Irwin occupied the left forward position. This setup was designed to facilitate quick transitions from defence to attack, with an emphasis on width and pace.
The substitutes for Abbey Villa included Mark Gilliland, Curtis Shannon, and Carson Mann, who would later play pivotal roles in the match as the game unfolded.
The home side wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Kyle Irwin opening the scoring just one minute into the match. Irwin struck with his left foot from outside the box, expertly assisted by Mathew Burke, sending a clear message to their opponents.
Woodvale's frustrations began to mount, leading to a yellow card for one of their players in the 11th minute for a bad tackle. Abbey Villa continued to press, and their efforts paid off again in the 22nd minute when Mathew Burke doubled the lead, converting a cross from Irwin with his right foot inside the box.
Just three minutes later, Jake Wilson added a third goal for Abbey Villa in the 25th minute, finishing off a well-coordinated team move, again assisted by Burke. The home side was in complete control, and they nearly extended their lead further when Matthew Edwards had a header saved in the 30th minute.
Daniel Beach came close to scoring in the 34th minute, hitting the post with a great effort, while James Edwards' attempt in the 38th minute went wide, leaving the score at 3-0 as the teams headed into half-time.
The second half began with Abbey Villa maintaining their momentum, and Mathew Burke struck again in the 50th minute, scoring from outside the box with his right foot after receiving a pass from Daniel McFarland. This goal further solidified Abbey Villa's commanding position at 4-0.
Woodvale's frustrations continued, leading to another yellow card in the 55th minute for dissent, followed by a second yellow for persistent infringements in the 62nd minute. Abbey Villa made their first substitution in the 64th minute, bringing on Mark Gilliland for the injured Daniel Beach.
As the match progressed, Curtis Shannon replaced James Edwards in the 68th minute, as Abbey Villa looked to maintain their tactical advantage. Jake Wilson had another attempt saved in the 72nd minute, but the visitors finally found a glimmer of hope in the 77th minute when they capitalised on a defensive mistake to score their only goal of the match.
Abbey Villa made their final substitution in the 80th minute, with Carson Mann coming on for the injured Kyle Irwin.
Despite a late attempt from Mann in the 86th minute that was saved, Abbey Villa comfortably held on to their lead, securing a comprehensive 4-1 victory. Curtis Williamson's commanding performance in defence earned him the accolade of Man of the Match, as Abbey Villa F.C 2nds showcased their strength and determination in this league encounter.
