PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
Abbey Villa 2
Ards 2
By Martin Strain
NIFL Championship team Ards were the visitors to Adams Park on Tuesday night in the latest of Abbey Villa’s pre-season games.
It’s hard to believe that almost a generation of kids will now have grown up not knowing the rich history of Ards FC. This is particularly true when many of us readily think back to the great Ards teams of the past, which included top quality players of the calibre of Humphries, Mowat, McEvoy, Nixon, McCoy et al. Genuinely hope it won’t be too much longer before they are back in their own ground and playing at the very top level of Irish League football.
Overall, a draw was a fair result for both team’s efforts on Tuesday. The first half saw the visitors with the majority of possession but most of that was in fairly passive areas, with the home defence coping relatively comfortably. Indeed it was Villa who took an early lead when Jake Wilson latched onto a long pass by Josh Barnes over the top of a very square looking Ards defence and finished comfortably past a static ’keeper.
As the half ran down Ards should have had an equaliser but the strike hit the underside of the bar and was eventually cleared to safety.
Villa began the second period as they did the first, however the visitors soon turned things around when they grabbed two quick goals in a five-minute period midway through the half.
It took the home side a while to settle again, but they eventually grabbed a deserved equaliser when Wilson squared a pass to Alex McIlmail in the penalty area and he stroked home.
Both teams created chances and came close to scoring as the time ticked away; McIlmail came closest for Villa when he hit the woodwork and on two separate occasions Villa had goalkeeper James Darlington to thank for keeping the score level.
Also deserving of mention is the condition of the Villa pitch. Great credit to all involved at the club over the summer months, who having recognised the need to carry out major remedial work didn’t shirk from the task. Well done to all the committee and all those who lent a hand, in particular to the unofficial groundsmen, Philip and Gary.
Abbey Villa 1
Ballymacash Rangers 2
A HEALTHY crowd braved the wet weather as Abbey Villa welcomed Ballymacash Rangers to Millisle at the weekend.
Villa found themselves pegged back in the early stages but slowly grew into the match. Ross Murray in the home goal was forced into some great saves, with one low down to his left particularly eye-catching. As the half progressed Villa themselves created a couple of half chances with Charley Craig being a real threat and Alex McIlmail showing quality in his hold-up play.
The second half started similarly to the first with the visitors looking really dangerous. Two goals within five minutes of each other after 20 minutes saw the Cash seemingly well clear of the home team.
But a super strike from Keith Armstrong reduced the arrears as Villa went in search of an equaliser. A couple of chances came and went to no avail, before the referee eventually blew the whistle on what was a really enjoyable match.
Coagh Utd Reserves 0
Abbey Villa Seconds 6
ABBEY Villa’s Seconds recorded a comprehensive friendly over Coagh United Reserves.
It took around 25 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, but from then on, Villa continued to create chance after chance.
The game also saw the return of second team skipper Jake Rainey from a long injury. Along with Jake, the rest of the back four – Matty Edwards, Casey Courtney and James Edwards – performed admirably while the midfield trio of Mitchell FInlay, Curtis Shannon and Daniel Beach were on top form also.
The second half then saw the introduction of some of the club’s young talent coming through the ranks as they handed out a number of debuts. Villa’s goals were scored by Carson Mann, Kyle Irwin, Daniel Beach , James Edwards and Daniel McFarland.
Upcoming fixtures
July 27: St Oliver Plunkett 1sts & 2nds (H)
July 30: Dundela FC (H)
