On 4 October 2025, EKFC 09s Gold welcomed Cambuslang Red Star to K-Park for a Second Round Scottish Cup match that kicked off at 9am. The 11-a-side encounter ended in a resounding 9-0 victory for EKFC 09s Gold, with the home side asserting complete dominance throughout the 90 minutes under referee James Foy’s watchful eye.
EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, deploying Christopher Wright in goal to marshal the defence. The back four consisted of Steve Graham at right defender, Lewis Sime and Max Graham as central defenders, and Mark McGuiness on the left. Andrew Hall operated as the lone central midfielder sitting just ahead of the defence, tasked with breaking up play and distributing the ball. Ahead of him, the midfield quartet featured Alfie Hall on the right attacking midfield, Kenneth Traynor centrally, Matthew Henderson also centrally but in a more advanced attacking midfield role, and Stephen Orr on the left attacking midfield. Leading the line was striker Shay Christie, expected to spearhead the attack and finish chances created by the midfield. On the bench were Daniel Friel and Josh Gales, ready to come on if tactical changes or injuries demanded.
The match burst into life early on with EKFC 09s Gold taking the lead in the ninth minute. Shay Christie’s clever flick inside the box found Alfie Hall, who calmly slotted home to open the scoring. This early goal set the tone for the home side’s attacking intent. Fifteen minutes later, Alfie Hall was again involved, this time delivering a precise corner that Stephen Orr met inside the box to double the advantage. Just four minutes after that, Steve Graham swung in a dangerous cross from the right flank which Shay Christie volleyed expertly into the net, making it 3-0 and leaving Cambuslang Red Star chasing shadows.
The first half concluded with EKFC 09s Gold firmly in control, their fluid 4-1-4-1 formation allowing them to dominate possession and create numerous chances. The defensive line remained resolute, with Christopher Wright untroubled in goal.
Shortly after the interval, a tactical substitution saw Daniel Friel replace Kenneth Traynor in the 57th minute, signalling a shift in midfield dynamics. The home side’s pressure paid off again six minutes later when Alfie Hall’s short pass found Steve Graham, who finished confidently inside the box to extend the lead to 4-0. Simultaneously, Josh Gales came on for striker Shay Christie, injecting fresh energy into the attack.
The momentum continued as Josh Gales capitalised on a goalmouth scramble in the 67th minute, with an assist from Lewis Sime, to make it 5-0. Just four minutes later, Daniel Friel provided a short pass to Stephen Orr, who made no mistake inside the box to notch his second goal of the afternoon. EKFC 09s Gold’s attacking midfielders were clearly thriving in their roles, linking play and exploiting spaces with precision.
In the 76th minute, Andrew Hall’s short pass found Alfie Hall once more, who finished inside the box to add a sixth goal. The home side’s relentless attacking approach left Cambuslang Red Star unable to mount any meaningful resistance. However, the match saw another substitution in the 78th minute when Josh Gales was forced off due to injury, with Kenneth Traynor returning to the field.
Stephen Orr continued his fine form with a spectacular volley in the 80th minute, increasing the tally to 7-0. Three minutes later, Alfie Hall completed his hat-trick, again assisted by Andrew Hall’s flick inside the box. The visitors were overwhelmed by the home side’s clinical finishing and cohesive team play.
The final substitution came in the 83rd minute when Matthew Henderson, who had been influential throughout the match and was named player of the match, was replaced by Shay Christie due to injury. Despite the change, EKFC 09s Gold maintained their dominance and added two more goals to complete a comprehensive 9-0 victory.
This emphatic win showcased EKFC 09s Gold’s tactical discipline, attacking prowess, and defensive solidity. The 4-1-4-1 formation was executed to perfection, with midfielders and defenders alike contributing to a memorable cup triumph at K-Park.
