EKFC 09s Gold Dominate Carbrain 9-0 At K-Park

EKFC 09s Gold welcomed Carbrain to K-Park on 25 October 2025 for an 11 aside league fixture kicking off at 11:00am. The home side produced a stunning display, running out comfortable 9-0 victors in a match that showcased their attacking prowess and defensive solidity throughout the 90 minutes plus added time.

EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation, with Ross McNab guarding the goal. The defensive line consisted of Steve Graham at right back, Lewis Sime and Max Graham as central defenders, and Mark McGuiness covering the left flank. In midfield, Alfie Hall operated on the right wing, Andrew Hall and Daniel Friel held the central midfield roles, while Stephen Orr patrolled the left midfield. Up front, Shay Christie and Josh Gales formed the striking partnership expected to lead the attacking threat. The substitutes available were Jay Ralston, Matthew Henderson, Joshua O'Brien, Christopher Wright, and Callum Kerr.

From the outset, EKFC 09s Gold set the tone with an early goal in the third minute. Andrew Hall flicked the ball cleverly, allowing Shay Christie to unleash a right-footed strike from outside the box that flew past the Carbrain goalkeeper. This early breakthrough was a statement of intent and put the hosts firmly in control.

The pressure continued, and in the 20th minute, Steve Graham demonstrated his attacking instincts by delivering a back-heeled assist to Josh Gales, who finished confidently with his left foot inside the box. Just six minutes later, Josh Gales returned the favour with a long pass to Andrew Hall, who struck a precise right-footed shot from inside the area to extend the lead to 3-0.

Carbrain’s frustration began to show when one of their players received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 35th minute, highlighting the physical nature of their attempts to stem the tide. EKFC 09s Gold capitalised on set pieces as well, with Daniel Friel delivering a corner that found Steve Graham rising highest to head home at the 40-minute mark, making it 4-0 before the break.

The first half concluded with EKFC 09s Gold firmly in command, their 4-4-2 formation proving effective both defensively and offensively. The full-backs supported attacks, the midfield controlled possession, and the forwards were clinical in front of goal.

At half time, EKFC 09s Gold made a tactical triple substitution to maintain momentum. Matthew Henderson replaced Max Graham in central defence, Joshua O'Brien came on for Stephen Orr on the left midfield, and Jay Ralston took over from Andrew Hall in central midfield. These changes injected fresh legs and maintained the team’s high tempo.

Just two minutes into the second half, Carbrain’s misfortune continued as an own goal was forced by EKFC’s relentless pressure, with the ball deflecting off a defender’s right foot from close range. The visitors’ misery was compounded immediately when Alfie Hall crossed expertly for Shay Christie to tap in from close range, doubling the striker’s tally and pushing the score to 6-0.

EKFC 09s Gold’s dominance was unrelenting. In the 56th minute, Daniel Friel scored a superb right-footed strike from outside the box after a short pass from Joshua O'Brien, showcasing his ability to influence the game from midfield. The home side’s tactical substitutions continued with Christopher Wright replacing Josh Gales in the 62nd minute to maintain attacking impetus.

A penalty was awarded to EKFC 09s Gold in the 68th minute, which Alfie Hall confidently converted with his right foot, adding another goal to the tally. Shortly after, Callum Kerr came on for Shay Christie, and at the 75-minute mark, Stephen Orr returned to the field replacing Daniel Friel, while Max Graham was reintroduced in place of Alfie Hall, signalling a rotation to preserve energy for the closing stages.

Carbrain’s discipline further deteriorated with two more yellow cards for bad tackles and dissent in the 76th and 79th minutes respectively. Christopher Wright also received a yellow card for unsporting behaviour in the 85th minute, reflecting the mounting frustration of the visitors.

The final flourish came deep into stoppage time when Max Graham unleashed a stunning right-footed strike from outside the box, assisted by Matthew Henderson’s short pass, to complete the emphatic 9-0 victory for EKFC 09s Gold.

Daniel Friel was named player of the match for his influential midfield performance, contributing both creativity and a crucial goal. EKFC 09s Gold’s comprehensive win was a testament to their tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and squad depth on display at K-Park.