Union Thistle FC 1 vs 6 EKFC 09s Gold

EKFC 09s Gold travelled to Park Villa Sports Hub on 26 July 2026 for a 10:00am kick-off in a friendly away fixture against Union Thistle FC. The match ended in a commanding 6-1 victory for EKFC 09s Gold, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical flexibility over the 90 minutes plus injury time.

EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, with Ross McNab guarding the goal. The defensive line featured Leo Moscardini at right back, Lewis Sime and Max Graham as central defenders, and Mark McGuiness on the left. In midfield, Alfie Hall operated on the right wing, Daniel Friel and Matthew Brown held the central midfield roles, while Josh Gales took up the left midfield position. Up front, the strike partnership consisted of Mitchell Tennant on the right and Omar Abdullah on the left. The substitutes available were Steve Graham, Adam Ross, Andrew Hall, Callum Kerr, Cooper Banks, Kenneth Traynor, Shay Christie, Stephen Orr, and Hussein.

From the outset, EKFC 09s Gold asserted themselves with an early goal in the 4th minute. Mitchell Tennant delivered a precise cross from the right, allowing central defender Lewis Sime to tap in from close range with his right foot. This early strike set the tone for the visitors, who looked to control the game through their wide midfielders and forwards.

The first quarter of the match saw an unfortunate injury to right defender Leo Moscardini, who was replaced by Steve Graham in the 24th minute. Despite this disruption, EKFC 09s Gold quickly regained momentum. Just a minute later, Mitchell Tennant doubled their lead after a neat short pass from left midfielder Josh Gales found him inside the box, where he calmly finished.

Union Thistle FC responded with a long-range strike of their own in the 35th minute, firing a right-footed effort from outside the box that found the back of the net. This goal briefly lifted the home side’s spirits, but EKFC 09s Gold maintained composure and continued to dominate possession until the half-time whistle.

The interval saw a flurry of tactical substitutions from EKFC 09s Gold, with six changes made immediately after the break. Andrew Hall replaced left defender Mark McGuiness, Callum Kerr came on for left midfielder Josh Gales, Cooper Banks took over from central defender Lewis Sime, Kenneth Traynor replaced central midfielder Daniel Friel, Adam Ross came on for central midfielder Matthew Brown, Stephen Orr also entered the fray, and Hussein replaced central defender Max Graham. Additionally, Shay Christie was introduced up front for Omar Abdullah. These changes injected fresh energy and allowed EKFC 09s Gold to maintain their attacking impetus.

The second half began with a continuation of EKFC 09s Gold’s dominance. In the 54th minute, Mitchell Tennant scored his second goal of the match, finishing inside the box after a short pass from Callum Kerr. Ten minutes later, Tennant completed his hat-trick with another composed finish inside the box, this time assisted by Shay Christie. Tennant’s clinical finishing was instrumental in stretching the lead and securing his place as man of the match.

In the 70th minute, a tactical substitution saw Max Graham return to the field, replacing the prolific Mitchell Tennant to shore up the defence and manage the game’s tempo as EKFC 09s Gold looked to close out the match.

The visitors continued to press forward, and in the 83rd minute, Callum Kerr added his name to the scoresheet with a right-footed finish inside the box, further extending the lead. Just four minutes later, Cooper Banks unleashed a spectacular screamer from outside the box with his right foot, capping off the emphatic victory.

EKFC 09s Gold’s 6-1 triumph was a comprehensive display of attacking football, tactical adaptability, and squad depth. Mitchell Tennant’s hat-trick and overall influence earned him the player of the match accolade, while the well-timed substitutions ensured the team maintained intensity throughout. Union Thistle FC’s solitary goal was a rare highlight in an otherwise one-sided encounter.