Abbey Villa F.C 2nds Dominate St. Oliver Plunkett 2nds At Millennium Park

NAFL 3A result:

St. Oliver Plunkett 2nds 1 v 5 Abbey Villa 2nds

Goals:

Daniel McFarland ??

Joshua Colville ?

Mark Gilliland ?

James Boyd ?

From the outset, Villa demonstrated their intent with Joshua Colville unleashing a stunning long-range strike with his right foot in the sixth minute, giving the visitors an early lead and setting the tone for the match. Plunkett struggled to contain the Villa’s fluid attacking play, and their frustrations boiled over when one of their players received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 26th minute.

Villa’s dominance continued as Daniel McFarland and James Boyd combined effectively in midfield and attack. Boyd doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, with a right foot finish, after a neat set up from McFarland, showcasing a well-worked team move. Just five minutes later, McFarland himself got on the scoresheet, converting a great finish after a precise layoff from Mark Gilliland, further extending the visitors’ advantage before the break.

The first half ended with Villa comfortably ahead at 3-0, having controlled the tempo and creating numerous chances. Early in the second half, the visitors maintained their attacking momentum. Mark Gilliland added a fourth goal in the 51st minute, slotting home another great finish, set up by James Boyd, completing another slick team move.

Tactical changes followed as Thomas Drysdale replaced Mark Gilliland in the 63rd minute, and shortly after, Jude Strain came on for Marcus McGrath in the 66th minute, both substitutions aimed at maintaining the team’s intensity and control. Despite their commanding lead, Villa’s goalkeeper Ross Murray was shown a yellow card after a challenge outside the box in the 75th minute, a rare moment of discipline concern in an otherwise composed performance.

Villa then scored their 5th goal of the game on the 78th minute, and it was worth the wait. A fantastic team move, with a break down the right side from Thomas Drysdale, who then delivered a super cross into the oncoming Daniel McFarland, who slotted home with a great finish.

Plunkett managed to pull a goal back in the 85th minute with a close-range finish inside the box, but this proved merely a consolation as Villa’s superiority was never in doubt. The match concluded with a comprehensive 5-1 victory for Villa, a result that reflected their clinical finishing and cohesive team play throughout the 90 minutes.

Daniel McFarland was deservedly named Man of the match for his influential role in midfield, contributing both goals and assists that helped secure the win. Villa’s shape on the day allowed them to dominate possession and create numerous scoring opportunities, with their wide forwards and midfielders linking up effectively to dismantle the opposition’s defence. This victory will surely boost their confidence as they continue their league campaign.

MOTM: Daniel McFarland