In a commanding display, EKFC 09s Gold faced off against Carbrain at the Oak Road Arena on 21 August 2025, with kick-off at 8:15pm. The match concluded with a resounding 6-0 victory for the visitors, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity throughout the encounter.
EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, designed to provide a strong defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Ross McNab took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Steve Graham and Mark McGuiness as right and left defenders, respectively, with Lewis Sime and Max Graham occupying the central defensive roles. Andrew Hall played as the lone central midfielder, tasked with linking play and providing support to the attacking trio. Alfie Hall and Stephen Orr operated as right and left attacking midfielders, while Shay Christie and Josh Gales led the line as forwards, expected to exploit any defensive lapses from Carbrain.
The substitutes for EKFC 09s Gold included Callum Kerr, Daniel Friel, Kenneth Traynor, and Matthew Henderson, ready to make an impact from the bench as the match progressed.
The scoring opened early in the match when Josh Gales found the back of the net in the 7th minute, converting a cross from Shay Christie with his left foot. This early goal set the tone for EKFC 09s Gold, who continued to press their opponents.
In the 28th minute, Shay Christie doubled the lead, finishing from inside the box after receiving a short pass from Max Graham. The momentum was firmly with EKFC 09s Gold, and they were nearly three up shortly after when Mark McGuiness struck the crossbar in the 37th minute, a near miss that would have further demoralised Carbrain.
Just before half-time, in the 40th minute, Shay Christie scored his second of the night, converting a cross from Stephen Orr from close range, sending EKFC 09s Gold into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half saw a flurry of tactical substitutions as EKFC 09s Gold looked to maintain their dominance. Callum Kerr, Daniel Friel, Kenneth Traynor, and Matthew Henderson all entered the fray at half-time, replacing Christie, Brown, Hall, and Gales, respectively.
The scoring resumed in the 53rd minute when Daniel Friel unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box, assisted by Alfie Hall, marking his introduction with a spectacular goal.
Matthew Henderson then got in on the act in the 65th minute, tapping in from close range after another assist from Alfie Hall, extending the lead to 5-0.
As the match progressed, Mark McGuiness received a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 72nd minute, but this did little to dampen the spirits of his teammates.
In the 75th minute, Josh Gales returned to the pitch, replacing Stephen Orr, while Shay Christie came back on for Alfie Hall, and Matthew Brown replaced Max Graham, as EKFC 09s Gold continued to rotate their squad.
The final goal of the match came in the 86th minute, when Matthew Brown scored from inside the box, assisted by Josh Gales with a long pass, sealing a comprehensive 6-0 victory for EKFC 09s Gold.
Mark McGuiness was recognised as the standout performer of the match, contributing significantly to both defence and attack. This emphatic win not only advances EKFC 09s Gold in the cup but also sends a clear message to their rivals about their intent this season.
