In a thrilling league encounter at Muirend Pavilion on 2nd March 2025, EKFC 09s Gold secured a convincing 3-1 victory away from home against W Academy White. The match kicked off at 1:00pm, showcasing a blend of tactical prowess and individual brilliance from the away side.
EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Ross McNab occupied the goalkeeping position, shielded by a back four comprising Alfie Hall and Mark McGuiness as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Max Graham and Lucas McLeod forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Lewis Sime and Andrew Hall operated as central midfielders, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play. Ahead of them, Callum Kerr and Kyle Gracie occupied the right and left attacking midfield roles, providing width and creativity, while Matthew Brown played centrally as the attacking midfielder. Daniel Friel led the line as the striker, expected to convert chances into goals.
The substitutes for EKFC 09s Gold included Shay Christie, Josh Gales, Stephen Orr, Kenneth Traynor, Matthew Henderson, and Steve Graham, ready to make an impact from the bench as the match progressed.
The home side wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Mark McGuiness opening the scoring just three minutes into the match. He connected powerfully with a header from a corner delivered by Matthew Brown, sending the home crowd into raptures.
As the first half progressed, EKFC 09s Gold continued to apply pressure, and their efforts paid off again in the 39th minute. Callum Kerr found the net with a precise right-footed shot from inside the box, assisted by a long pass from Max Graham, doubling the lead just before half-time.
With the scoreline at 2-0, Daniel Friel was substituted for Shay Christie in the 40th minute, a tactical move aimed at maintaining momentum as the teams headed into the break.
The second half saw EKFC 09s Gold make further changes, with Josh Gales replacing Callum Kerr in the 51st minute, followed by Stephen Orr and Kenneth Traynor coming on for Kyle Gracie and Matthew Brown, respectively, in the 56th minute. These substitutions were aimed at freshening up the midfield and attack as the match wore on.
In the 60th minute, the tactical changes bore fruit when Shay Christie scored EKFC 09s Gold's third goal. He found the net with a right-footed strike from inside the box, assisted by a long pass from Mark McGuiness, putting the home side firmly in control at 3-0.
However, W Academy White refused to go down without a fight. In the 71st minute, they pulled a goal back with a stunning long-range strike from outside the box, finding the bottom corner with a powerful left-footed shot. This goal injected some life into the visitors, but they were unable to mount a significant comeback.
Despite the late goal from W Academy White, EKFC 09s Gold held firm to secure a well-deserved 3-1 victory, showcasing their attacking flair and defensive resilience throughout the match. The result not only boosts their league standing but also highlights the potential of this talented squad as they look to build on this success in future fixtures.
