In a thrilling cup encounter at K-Park on 13 April 2025, EKFC 09s Gold showcased their attacking prowess, defeating Campsie Minerva with a resounding scoreline of 10-4. The match kicked off at 9:00 am, and the home side's dominance was evident throughout the 80 minutes of play, plus added time.
EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Alexander Stewart took his place in goal, while the back four consisted of Steve Graham on the right, Matthew Henderson and Lewis Sime in central defence, and Mark McGuiness on the left. Andrew Hall operated as the lone defensive midfielder, providing cover for the defence and linking play. Ahead of him, Alfie Hall and Stephen Orr occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles respectively, with Kenneth Traynor positioned centrally to orchestrate the attack. Up front, Josh Gales and Callum Kerr formed a dynamic forward partnership, expected to exploit any defensive lapses from the opposition.
The substitutes for EKFC 09s Gold included Shay Christie, Matthew Brown, and Daniel Friel, who would later play pivotal roles in the match.
The scoring opened in the 15th minute when Stephen Orr found the net, assisted by Josh Gales, giving EKFC 09s Gold an early lead. However, Campsie Minerva responded quickly, equalising in the 23rd minute before taking the lead themselves with another goal in the 32nd minute. Just as it seemed the momentum had shifted, Callum Kerr struck back for EKFC 09s Gold, scoring in the same minute as the second Campsie goal, with Gales providing the assist once again.
Steve Graham then added to the home side's tally in the 34th minute, restoring their lead and shifting the momentum firmly back in their favour. As the first half drew to a close, Stephen Orr was substituted off for Shay Christie in the 38th minute, marking a tactical adjustment as the teams headed into the break with EKFC 09s Gold leading 4-2.
The second half commenced with renewed energy, and just two minutes in, Josh Gales scored again, this time with an assist from Alfie Hall, extending the lead to 5-2. In the 53rd minute, Matthew Brown replaced Kenneth Traynor, adding fresh legs to the midfield. The 55th minute saw Shay Christie score his first goal of the match, assisted by Lewis Sime, further widening the gap to 6-2.
The action continued as Christie struck again in the 59th minute, this time with an assist from Alfie Hall, bringing the score to 7-2. Callum Kerr then added his second goal of the match in the 62nd minute, assisted by Christie, showcasing the home side's attacking depth. Daniel Friel entered the fray in the 59th minute, replacing Alfie Hall, and made an immediate impact by scoring in the 65th minute, with Andrew Hall providing the assist.
Campsie Minerva managed to pull one back in the 66th minute, but EKFC 09s Gold responded swiftly, with Daniel Friel scoring his second goal in the 73rd minute, assisted by Kenneth Traynor. The relentless assault continued, and in the 77th minute, Matthew Brown scored, assisted by Callum Kerr, bringing the score to 10-3.
Campsie Minerva found the net once more in the 78th minute, but it was too little, too late as EKFC 09s Gold secured a comprehensive victory with a final score of 10-4. The match highlighted the attacking capabilities of EKFC 09s Gold, with multiple players contributing to the scoreline, ensuring their progression in the cup competition.
