In a commanding display, EKFC 09s Gold triumphed over Campsie Minerva with a resounding scoreline of 8-1 in their cup away match held at Lennoxtown on 27 April 2025. The match kicked off at 11:15 am, showcasing the young talents of both teams in an 11-a-side format.
EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Ross McNab took his position in goal, shielded by a back four comprising 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 central midfielder, tasked with linking play between defence and attack. The attacking midfield trio featured Alfie Hall on the right, Matthew Brown in the centre, and Stephen Orr on the left, while Shay Christie and Josh Gales led the line as forwards. The substitutes for the match included Lucas McLeod, Daniel Friel, Callum Kerr, Max Graham, and Kenneth Traynor.
The match began with Campsie Minerva taking an early lead in the 13th minute, catching EKFC 09s Gold off guard. However, the response from the Gold was swift and decisive. Matthew Brown equalised in the 35th minute with a stunning strike from outside the area, showcasing his ability to find the net from distance. Just a minute later, Shay Christie received a yellow card, a moment that could have disrupted the flow of the game.
Yet, Christie quickly redeemed himself by scoring in the 38th minute, assisted by Stephen Orr with a well-placed short pass. This goal shifted the momentum firmly in favour of EKFC 09s Gold. As the first half drew to a close, the Gold were in control, leading 2-1.
The second half commenced with a tactical substitution as Lucas McLeod replaced Matthew Henderson. Shortly after, Callum Kerr came on for Josh Gales, and Max Graham replaced Matthew Brown, both changes aimed at maintaining the Gold's attacking prowess. Kenneth Traynor also entered the fray, taking over from Andrew Hall.
The Gold continued their onslaught, with Shay Christie netting his second goal just two minutes into the second half, again assisted by Stephen Orr. This time, Christie found the back of the net from outside the box, further extending the lead to 3-1. In the 44th minute, Josh Gales added to the tally with a close-range tap-in, courtesy of a cross from Alfie Hall, making it 4-1.
Daniel Friel then made his mark in the 57th minute, scoring a tap-in after another assist from Alfie Hall. The Gold's dominance was evident as Callum Kerr followed suit in the 60th minute, lobbing the ball over the goalkeeper after receiving a short pass from Hall, bringing the score to 6-1.
Friel struck again in the 66th minute, scoring inside the box with yet another assist from Alfie Hall, who was proving to be instrumental in the Gold's attacking play. The final goal of the match came in the 78th minute when Lucas McLeod found the net, assisted by Stephen Orr, sealing an emphatic 8-1 victory for EKFC 09s Gold.
The match showcased the attacking flair and resilience of EKFC 09s Gold, who will undoubtedly carry this momentum into their next fixtures.
