In an exhilarating friendly match held at Clyde Valley High School on 15 June 2025, Motherwell Villa AFC faced off against Caldervale United, ultimately succumbing to a narrow defeat with a final score of 3-4. The match, which kicked off at 12:00pm, was a showcase of attacking football, with both teams displaying their talents in a high-scoring affair.
Motherwell Villa AFC lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking movements. Brendon Donnelly took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Max Gold and Ryan Kells as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Tommy Holland and Ben Mathieson forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Jey Docherty and Michael Third operated as central midfielders, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play. Ahead of them, Declan Linden and Louis Beattie occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, while Aaron Brown led the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Motherwell Villa AFC included Aidan Mcroberts, Hubert Kaczmarek, and Kai Conway, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The game began with an early scare for Motherwell as Louis Beattie was flagged offside in the fifth minute, a sign of the attacking intent that would characterise the match. Declan Linden followed suit with two offside calls in the 15th and 28th minutes, the latter of which was accompanied by a yellow card for dissent, reflecting the mounting frustration of the Motherwell players.
However, Linden soon turned his fortunes around, scoring the opening goal in the 31st minute. After receiving a clever assist from Louis Beattie, Linden found space inside the box and dispatched a right-footed shot past the Caldervale goalkeeper, sending the home crowd into raptures. The lead was short-lived, though, as Caldervale United equalised just before half-time in the 42nd minute, scoring directly from a corner kick with a powerful header that left Donnelly with no chance.
The second half saw immediate changes for Motherwell, with Kai Conway replacing Aaron Brown, Hubert Kaczmarek coming on for Ryan Kells, and Aidan Mcroberts taking the place of Declan Linden, all at the half-time mark. The substitutions aimed to inject fresh energy into the team, but disaster struck shortly after the restart. In the 48th minute, Caldervale United capitalised on a defensive lapse to score a tap-in, taking a 2-1 lead.
Motherwell's frustrations continued as Kai Conway was caught offside in the 55th minute, shortly before receiving a yellow card for dissent. The match took a further turn for the worse when Max Gold committed a late tackle in the 60th minute, conceding a penalty that Caldervale converted in the 61st minute, extending their lead to 3-1.
In response, Motherwell made tactical adjustments, bringing back Declan Linden for Michael Third in the 65th minute and reintroducing Aaron Brown for Louis Beattie in the 66th minute. Despite the changes, Motherwell struggled to find their rhythm, with Aidan Mcroberts flagged offside in the 68th minute and Declan Linden again caught offside in the 73rd minute.
However, hope was rekindled for Motherwell in the 70th minute when Aaron Brown scored a well-timed goal, finishing inside the box after a precise assist from Kai Conway. This brought the score to 3-2, igniting the home side's hopes of a comeback.
As the match approached its climax, Motherwell continued to push forward, but Caldervale United struck again in the 90th minute, scoring another tap-in to make it 4-2. In a dramatic finish, Ben Mathieson pulled one back for Motherwell in the second minute of added time, scoring a stunning long-range effort following a short pass from Hubert Kaczmarek, bringing the final score to 4-3.
Despite the defeat, Jey Docherty was recognised as the standout performer of the match, showcasing his skill and determination throughout. The match served as a thrilling prelude to the upcoming season, highlighting both the strengths and areas for improvement for Motherwell Villa AFC as they prepare for future challenges.
