In a season opening friendly at Laurelhill 3G, Abbey Villa F.C 2nds showcased their attacking prowess, defeating Hillsborough Boys F.C with a resounding scoreline of 7-2. The match kicked off at 2:30pm, and it was clear from the outset that Abbey Villa were in formidable form.
Abbey Villa lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, designed to maximise their attacking potential while maintaining a solid defensive structure. Ross Murray took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of James Edwards on the right, Matthew Edwards and Jake Rainey in central defence, and Curtis Shannon on the left. The midfield trio featured James King on the right, Louis Gault-Reid centrally, and Casey Courtney on the left, providing both creativity and support to the forwards. Up front, Thomas Drysdale operated on the right wing, Carson Mann was the central striker, and Kyle Irwin occupied the left forward position. The substitutes for this match included Mark Gilliland, James Boyd, Jay McCoy, and Josh Moody.
The match began explosively as Carson Mann opened the scoring, converting a well-placed assist from Jimbo King with a precise right-footed shot inside the box. This early goal set the tone for Abbey Villa's dominance throughout the first half.
The lead was doubled when Jake Rainey unleashed a stunning long-range strike from outside the box, finding the back of the net with his right foot. The Hillsborough defence struggled to cope with the relentless pressure, and it was no surprise when Matthew Edwards added a third goal, heading home from a corner delivered by Kyle Irwin.
As the first half progressed, Abbey Villa made tactical substitutions, bringing on Mark Gilliland & James Boyd. The changes did little to disrupt their momentum, as James King scored a spectacular goal from outside the box, further extending the lead with a right-footed screamer.
With a commanding 4-0 lead at half-time, Abbey Villa made further adjustments, introducing Jay McCoy and Josh Moody, just before the break.
The second half resumed with Abbey Villa continuing their onslaught. Carson Mann found the net again, scoring from inside the box after a short pass from Josh Moody. Just four minutes later, Mann struck again, this time finishing a well-executed team move with another right-footed effort.
James Boyd then got in on the act, tapping in a close-range effort after a precise cross from Kyle Irwin, bringing the score to 7-0. Abbey Villa appeared to be cruising towards a comprehensive victory.
However, Hillsborough Boys F.C managed to find a way back into the match, capitalising on defensive mistakes from Abbey Villa. They scored their first goal late on, followed by a second shortly after.
Despite the late goals from Hillsborough, Abbey Villa's performance was dominant, with James King earning the Man of the Match accolade for his influential display. The final whistle confirmed a resounding 7-2 victory for Abbey Villa F.C 2nds, a result that will surely boost their confidence as they continue their preparations for the season ahead.