In a closely contested friendly match at Adams Park, Millisle, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds faced off against Castle FC on 9th August 2025. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw, showcasing a spirited performance from both sides as they prepared for the upcoming season.
Abbey Villa adopted a 3-5-2 formation, with Ben McConkey in goal, supported by a back three of Joshua Colville, Jake Rainey, and Matthew Edwards. The midfield was packed with Daniel McFarland and Kyle Irwin on the flanks, while Marcus McGrath, Louis Gault-Reid, and James King operated centrally. Up front, the duo of James Boyd and Carson Mann looked to exploit any defensive lapses from Castle FC. The substitutes for Abbey Villa included Thomas Drysdale, Josh Moody, Harvey Carnduff, and Paul Mulholland.
The match began with Abbey Villa looking to assert their dominance early on. In the 14th minute, James Boyd made a promising attempt on goal, but his effort went wide, signalling the intent of the home side. Just five minutes later, James King followed suit with another attempt that also failed to find the target, as Abbey Villa sought to break the deadlock.
As the first half progressed, Boyd was again in the thick of the action, but his header in the 25th minute sailed high over the bar, leaving the scoreline unchanged. However, it was Castle FC who struck first in the 32nd minute, finding the net with a well-placed shot inside the box from what looked like a certain offside position, this left young McConkey with no chance. The goal shifted the momentum in favour of the visitors as the half drew to a close.
The whistle for half-time blew at 45 minutes, with Abbey Villa trailing 1-0. The home side made a tactical change immediately after the break, bringing on Thomas Drysdale for James King in the 46th minute, aiming to bolster their midfield presence.
The second half saw Abbey Villa come out with renewed vigour. Their persistence paid off in the 53rd minute when Carson Mann capitalised on a goalmouth scramble, slotting the ball home from close range with his right foot to level the score at 1-1. This goal injected fresh energy into the Abbey Villa side, who were now firmly back in the contest.
As the match continued, Abbey Villa made further substitutions to maintain their momentum. In the 65th minute, Josh Moody replaced James Boyd, followed by Harvey Carnduff coming on for Kyle Irwin in the 75th minute. Shortly after, Paul Mulholland entered the fray, taking the place of the goalscorer Mann, as Abbey Villa looked to secure a winning goal.
With the match entering its final stages, Abbey Villa's goalkeeper Ben McConkey was called into action in the 82nd minute, making a crucial penalty save that kept the scores level. His heroics were pivotal in ensuring that Abbey Villa remained in contention for the win as the clock ticked down.
Despite both teams pushing for a late winner, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, a fair reflection of the competitive nature of the encounter. Louis Gault-Reed had an exceptional game in midfield in a commanding performance. But it was Jake Rainey named Man of the Match on this occasion, for his defensive performance throughout the game, whilst also being engaged a tough battle with Castle centre forward Hay.
