Eastend Athletic 5 vs 5 Motherwell Villa AFC

In a pulsating friendly encounter at Eastend Athletic's home ground on 18 May 2025, Motherwell Villa AFC and their hosts played out a dramatic 5-5 draw. The match, which kicked off at 2:00 pm, saw both teams display attacking flair and resilience, resulting in a thrilling spectacle for the spectators.

Motherwell Villa lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. The back four consisted 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 front of them, Adam Hughes and Michael Third operated as central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and supporting the attack. The attacking trio featured Declan Linden on the right, Connor Mitchell in the central role, and Louis Beattie on the left, with Aidan Mcroberts leading the line as the striker. The substitutes for the match included Jey Docherty, Kai Conway, and Kyle Ireland.

The match began with an early attempt from Louis Beattie, who shot wide within the first minute, signalling Motherwell Villa's intent. However, it was Eastend Athletic who struck first, taking the lead in the 10th minute with a volley from close range that left the Motherwell defence scrambling.

Motherwell Villa responded quickly, with Aidan Mcroberts finding the net in the 15th minute, converting a flick from Connor Mitchell inside the box to level the scores. The momentum shifted again when Louis Beattie scored a stunning goal from outside the area in the 35th minute, assisted by Adam Hughes, putting Motherwell Villa ahead 2-1.

As the first half drew to a close, Eastend Athletic equalised with a tap-in just before the break, making it 2-2 at half-time. The second half saw a flurry of goals, starting with another volley from Eastend Athletic in the 50th minute, regaining the lead at 3-2.

However, Motherwell Villa's Kai Conway had other ideas, scoring a sensational long-range effort just two minutes later, followed by another goal from Conway in the 58th minute, this time from outside the box, putting Motherwell Villa ahead 4-3.

The match continued to swing back and forth as Michael Third added to the tally in the 64th minute, scoring from inside the box after a clever assist from Conway, extending the lead to 5-3.

With time running out, Eastend Athletic mounted a late comeback, scoring a goal from outside the area in the 89th minute, narrowing the deficit to 5-4. In a dramatic finish, they equalised with a long-range strike deep into injury time, sealing a remarkable 5-5 draw.

The match showcased the attacking prowess of both teams, with Kai Conway earning the Player of the Match accolade for his outstanding performance, including two goals and an assist. The thrilling encounter will be remembered for its relentless pace and the sheer determination displayed by both sides.