NAFL PREMIER DIVISION
ROSEMOUNT REC 0
ABBEY VILLA 2
Dennis Nash reports from Islandview Road
ROSEMOUNT remain without a league victory this season after a goal in each half saw Abbey Villa emerge from Islandview Road with maximum points on Saturday.
The Millisle side took a grip of the early exchanges and it took a fine, flying save from Rosemount’s Chris Rice on the quarter-hour to deny the visitors from taking the lead.
At the other end Scott Shannon produced a threatening forward run before Matthew McAvoy, back to Islandview Road after a brief stop at Ards FC, pulled the save-of-the-season out of the swooping James Darlington who managed to push the ball away from the inviting net.
The half-hour had been reached when the team from Adams Park finally cracked the home defence.
Villa’s player of the month, Jack Upritchard, was well-placed to grab the opener with a deft stroke to hand the visitors the initiative in the big local clash.
Villa had been the more dominant side in that opening 45 minutes, but there was still a distinct possibility that the second half could bring Rosemount their first victory of the season.
Certainly a shift in the balance was a prerequisite if the home side were to find any definite plans to start moving up to a more comfortable league position, however an early corner kick from Villa’s Chris Murray opened up shooting space for Upritchard and, although the home defence managed to clear the danger, the opening second-half exchanges did not point towards a Rosemount comeback.
Mitchel Watterson, Joshua Ritchie and Lucas Morrison were certainly demonstrating a Rosemount desire to pack some authority into a forward balance and there was a feeling that the home hopes had not totally evaporated.
Villa however continued to offer a threat with Ryan Convery first forcing a save from Rice and then on 62 minutes a snapshot from Upritchard flashed just over the target.
Rosemount, urged on from the touchlines, were still in the contest and Charley Craig, Callum Carleton and Scott Shannon made forward advances with renewed vigour.
However the result was settled with six minutes to go when the highly-influential Murray crashed a low drive into the Rosemount net.
THE MATCH CARD
Rosemount Rec: Christopher Rice, Lucas Morrison, Joshua Ritchie (C), Matthew McAvoy, Allan Eccles, Charley Craig, Mitchel Watterson, Scott Shannon, Jay Thompson, Dean Shaw, Ross Murray.
Substitutes: Ben McMorris, Callum Carleton, Kristian Trainor.
Officials: Scott Ritchie, Ryan Shaw, William McIlroy, Nicholas Eccles, Kurtis Browne, Reece Bailie.
Abbey Villa: James Darlington, Ryan Convery, Gregg Fleming, Alan Strain (C), Scott Robbie, Adam Arthurs, Jack Upritchard, Joshua Barnes, Christopher Murray, Mark Cooling, Alexander McIlmail.
Substitutes: Jake Wilson, Matthew Dempster, Keith Armstrong.
Officials: Scott Collins, Brian Hylands, Paul Magee, Ryan Mann, Simon Gordon, Samuel Greer.
POST-MATCH QUOTES FROM THE TOUCHLINES
- “The save from the Villa ‘keeper at 0-0 was the big factor in the result.”
- Villa worthy for the victory – but Rosemount have a great young side!”
- “Best ref I have seen this season!”
- “Man of the Match has to be Mark Cooling.”
- “Not a game for the purist by any stretch of the imagination.”
- “Matthew McAvoy was outstanding!”
THE TEAMS
Rosemount Rec FC
Rosemount were first known as Greyabbey Rangers and started out in competitive football when they played Vikings FC in the Peninsula Summer League on Thursday, May 16, 1912.
In 1919 the club changed their name to Abbey Rangers. It was three years later in 1922 that the club made another name change – this time to Rosemount United.
The name changed yet again to Rosemount Star and eventually on May 1, 1975, the current name of Rosemount Rec was adopted.
Rosemount’s first venture into the Amateur League lasted from 1975 until 1978.
Their return to that competition got underway in September 2010 and, in 2023, the club secured a place in the very top division of that Association.
Abbey Villa FC
Abbey Villa began life as Millisle United away back in 1955 when the Cardy League brought the first locally-organised winter football to the Ards area.
They joined the Churches League in 1956 under the name of Millisle Presbyterian, before entering the Northern Amateur Football League in 1962 as Abbey Villa.
They play home matches at Adams Park. Villa field three adult men’s teams and also have a strong youth system.
THE COMPETITION
The Northern Amateur Football League now contains 13 Divisions with four Intermediate Sections, three Junior Sections and six Reserve Team Sections.
Down-the-Side Facts
Number of words here – 500
LOOKING BACK
Prior to 1955 there was absolutely no sign of competitive winter football anywhere in the Ards Peninsula.
It was in September 1955 that the Cardy League staged the first winter football programme within the area. On that memorable occasion five teams linked into history. They were: Mountstewart Amateurs, Millisle United, Ballywalter Swifts, Cardy Rovers and Ballyboley Star.
That list bears ties with the game in Greyabbey last weekend, because the Mountstewart Amateurs side was packed with players with a direct and strong connection to Greyabbey while, in later years, Millisle United changed the team name to Abbey Villa.
Almost seven decades have slipped away since Mountstewart faced Millisle in the Cardy League and yet – last Saturday – the meeting of Rosemount and Abbey Villa carried thoughts back down time to season 1955-1956.
AT GREYABBEY
Thanks for the warm welcome received from the Greyabbey club last Saturday afternoon and the local perspective was truly underscored when Irish FA president Conrad Kirkwood brought me a warm and appetising half-time cuppa.
THE REFEREE
Philip Bogle – a surname well-versed in local circles – had a sound performance delivered at times in awkward situations.
PHOTOGRAPHER
The official photographer at the game was Bob Torrens.
ROSEMOUNT REC NEWS
The Rosemount man of the match sponsored by David McConkey was Matthew McAvoy.
Elsewhere, the seconds produced a top away performance to beat St Matthews 3-1, with Stephen Hollinger (2) and Lewis Cafolla scoring.
Bob Hull failed to find the joker, therefore the jackpot rises to £360. Thanks to Gerald Bell for his contribution.
This Saturday, the first team entertain Dromara Village in the second round of the Intermediate Cup (1.30pm), while the seconds travel to play Queens Grads seconds (2pm).
