EKFC 09s Gold Suffer Defeat Against Barrhead Red Star

In a friendly encounter held at Cowan Park, Barrhead, on 15 September 2024, EKFC 09s Gold faced off against Barrhead Red Star, ultimately succumbing to a 5-2 defeat. The match kicked off at 11:30 am and showcased a series of thrilling moments, with Barrhead Red Star demonstrating their attacking prowess throughout the game.

EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, featuring Ross McNab in goal, supported by a defensive line of Andrew Hall, Lewis Sime, Lucas McLeod, and Mark McGuiness. Steve Graham operated as the lone holding midfielder, while Callum Kerr, Stephen Orr, Matthew Brown, and Kyle Gracie formed the midfield quartet. Up front, Matthew Henderson was tasked with leading the attack. The substitutes for the match included Kenneth Traynor, Matthew Bell, and Shay McCallum.

The match began with Barrhead Red Star quickly asserting their dominance. Just six minutes in, they opened the scoring with a stunning solo goal, leaving the EKFC defence scrambling. The pressure continued to mount, and by the 13th minute, Barrhead doubled their lead following a chaotic goalmouth scramble that resulted in another close-range finish.

As the first half progressed, Barrhead Red Star struck again in the 22nd minute, executing a perfectly timed lob that left McNab with no chance. In response to the mounting deficit, EKFC made a tactical substitution, bringing on Kenneth Traynor for Stephen Orr in the 22nd minute.

However, EKFC found a glimmer of hope just two minutes later when Kyle Gracie unleashed a spectacular long-range strike from outside the box, finding the back of the net with his right foot. Gracie's confidence surged, and he soon added a second goal for his side, converting from inside the box after receiving a precise long pass from Lucas McLeod in the 24th minute.

The first half concluded with Barrhead leading 3-2, but the second half saw a resurgence from the home side. Just four minutes after the restart, a defensive mistake from EKFC allowed Barrhead to score their fourth goal, with the ball finding the net from close range once again.

The 58th minute saw Barrhead Red Star execute a well-coordinated team move, resulting in their fifth goal of the match, further extending their lead. In an effort to change the tide, EKFC made another substitution in the 60th minute, with Matthew Bell replacing Mark McGuiness.

As the match wore on, EKFC made their final substitution in the 67th minute, bringing on Shay McCallum for Matthew Henderson. Despite their efforts, EKFC could not find a way back into the game, and the match concluded with Barrhead Red Star securing a convincing 5-2 victory.

Callum Kerr was recognised as the standout performer for EKFC 09s Gold, showcasing determination and skill throughout the match, even as his team faced a challenging defeat.