Abbey Villa F.C 2nds hosted Immaculata F.C 2nds at Adams Park, Millisle on 20 September 2025, with kick-off at 2:00pm in a league fixture. The home side emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline after a disciplined and determined display over the 90 minutes plus added time.
Abbey Villa lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, deploying Simon Adair in goal. The defensive line consisted of James Edwards at right back, Matthew Edwards and Jake Rainey as central defenders, and Curtis Shannon on the left. The midfield trio featured James Boyd on the right, Louis Gault-Reid centrally, and James King on the left. Up front, the attacking trio was made up of Carson Mann on the right wing, Mathew Burke as the central striker, and Kyle Irwin on the left wing. Mark Gilliland was named among the substitutes.
The 4-3-3 setup was designed to provide width and attacking options from the flanks while maintaining solidity at the back. The full-backs were expected to support both defence and attack, the midfielders to control possession and link play, and the front three to press the opposition and create scoring opportunities.
The first half saw Abbey Villa create several chances but struggled to find the target. At 27 minutes, Matthew Edwards attempted header sailed high over the bar, signalling early attacking intent from the central defender. Kyle Irwin tested the opposition goalkeeper with another headed opportunity on 36 minutes, which was saved, keeping the score goalless at half-time.
The second half began with increased intensity. Immaculata received a yellow card at 53 minutes for dissent, followed closely by another booking at 55 minutes for unsporting behaviour, indicating rising tensions. Abbey Villa made a tactical substitution at 68 minutes, bringing on Mark Gilliland for James Boyd to inject fresh energy into midfield.
The breakthrough though, came at 73 minutes when Jake Rainey scored a stunning long-range free-kick, giving Abbey Villa the lead. The goal was a testament to Rainey’s skill and precision, and he would later be named player of the match for his overall performance.
Discipline continued to be an issue for Immaculata, who received a further yellow card for unsporting behaviour at 76 minutes. Abbey Villa’s Louis Gault-Reid was also booked for unsporting behaviour in the same incident, reflecting the competitive nature of the contest.
Abbey Villa doubled their advantage at 82 minutes through Carson Mann, who finished from close range following a well-worked team move. The goal was expertly set up by Kyle Irwin’s precise cross, showcasing the attacking threat posed by the Villa winger.
Kyle Irwin had another attempt on goal at 84 minutes, but this time his effort went wide. The match’s closing stages saw Immaculata reduced to ten men after a second yellow card for a deliberate hand ball, was shown on the 89th minute, effectively sealing Abbey Villa’s victory.
Abbey Villa’s defensive resilience, combined with moments of attacking quality, ensured a deserved 2-0 win over Immaculata F.C 2nds. Jake Rainey’s decisive free-kick and overall defensive contribution earned him the Man of the match accolade, while the team’s tactical discipline and effective use of the 4-3-3 formation proved key to their success.
