Abbey Villa F.C 2nds Edge Coagh United Reserves In Friendly

Abbey Villa F.C 2nds faced off against Coagh United Reserves in a friendly encounter at Coagh sports centre on 2nd August 2025, with the match concluding in a narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors. The match kicked off at 2:00pm, showcasing both teams' preparations ahead of the competitive season.

Abbey Villa adopted a 4-3-3 formation, which positioned Ross Murray in goal, shielded by a back four comprising James Edwards and Louis Gault-Reid as the right and left defenders, respectively, while Jake Rainey and Matthew Edwards occupied the central defensive roles. The midfield trio featured Daniel McFarland on the right, Marcus McGrath centrally, and James King on the left, providing both defensive cover and attacking support. Up front, Kyle Irwin and Thomas Drysdale operated as right and left forwards, with Carson Mann leading the line as the striker.

The substitutes for Abbey Villa included Ben McConkey, James Boyd, Joshua Colville, Josh Moody, Reece Trimble, and Harvey Carnduff, offering tactical options for the manager as the match progressed.

The first half saw its share of action, beginning with a yellow card issued to Louis Gault-Reid for a bad tackle in the 30th minute, a decision that highlighted the competitive nature of the fixture. Just four minutes later, Ross Murray made a crucial point-blank reaction save, demonstrating his shot-stopping prowess and keeping the scoreline level.

As the half drew to a close, Abbey Villa found the breakthrough they were searching for. In the 44th minute, Thomas Drysdale struck inside the box with his left foot, sending the ball past the Coagh United goalkeeper to give his side a vital lead just before half-time.

The second half commenced with a tactical substitution as Ben McConkey replaced Ross Murray in goal, indicating a strategic shift from Abbey Villa. The match reached the 55th minute when two more substitutions were made: James Boyd came on for Carson Mann, and Joshua Colville replaced Matthew Edwards, both changes aimed at maintaining momentum and freshening up the squad.

In the 60th minute, Josh Moody entered the fray, taking over from James King, as Abbey Villa continued to assert their dominance. The substitutions continued with Reece Trimble coming on for Marcus McGrath in the 70th minute, followed closely by Harvey Carnduff replacing the goal-scorer Thomas Drysdale, ensuring fresh legs were on the pitch as the match approached its conclusion.

Despite a spirited effort from Coagh United, Abbey Villa's defence held firm, and they managed to see out the game, securing a well-deserved victory. Louis Gault-Reid's performance, despite his earlier booking, was instrumental in the team's success, earning him the Man of the Match accolade. This friendly served as a promising start for Abbey Villa F.C 2nds as they look ahead to the challenges of the upcoming season.