EKFC 09s Gold Struggle At Downfield Pavilion Against Dundee West Royals

EKFC 09s Gold faced Dundee West Royals u17 in a cup away match at Downfield Pavilion on 9 November 2025, kicking off at 2:00pm. The 90-minute encounter ended in a 5-1 defeat for EKFC 09s Gold, who found themselves outclassed by the visitors.

EKFC 09s Gold lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, deploying Christopher Wright in goal. The defensive line consisted of Steve Graham at right back, Lewis Sime and Max Graham as central defenders, and Mark McGuiness at left back. The midfield featured Alfie Hall on the right wing, Daniel Friel and Andrew Hall in central midfield, and Stephen Orr on the left flank. Up front, Matthew Henderson operated as the right forward with Shay Christie on the left. The substitutes available were Ross McNab, Callum Kerr, Jay Ralston, and Kenneth Traynor.

The match began with Dundee West Royals asserting early dominance, opening the scoring in the 14th minute. EKFC 09s Gold struggled to contain their opponents’ attacking threat, and a yellow card was shown to a Dundee West Royals player just four minutes later, indicating a physical contest. EKFC’s defence was tested repeatedly, with Lewis Sime receiving a yellow card in the 34th minute for a foul, reflecting the pressure on the backline.

Dundee West Royals doubled their lead in the 36th minute, and the visitors’ momentum continued as they scored again just before half time in the 43rd minute. EKFC 09s Gold’s Matthew Henderson was cautioned in the 40th minute, showing the intensity of the midfield battle. The same minute as the third goal saw another yellow card for Dundee West Royals, highlighting the competitive nature of the first half. The half concluded with Dundee West Royals firmly in control at 3-0.

At the interval, EKFC 09s Gold made three changes to try and turn the tide. Callum Kerr replaced Daniel Friel, Jay Ralston came on for Matthew Henderson, and Ross McNab was brought on for the injured goalkeeper Christopher Wright. These tactical and injury substitutions aimed to refresh the side and stem the flow of goals.

Despite the changes, Dundee West Royals extended their lead in the 56th minute, making it 4-0. The visitors continued to press, and another yellow card was issued to a Dundee West Royals player in the 58th minute. EKFC 09s Gold were forced into another substitution at the hour mark when Kenneth Traynor replaced the injured Max Graham in defence.

In the 70th minute, Daniel Friel returned to the field, replacing Shay Christie in a tactical switch intended to bolster midfield creativity. However, the match took a further blow for EKFC 09s Gold in the 72nd minute when Lewis Sime was shown a second yellow card for unsporting behaviour, resulting in a red card and reducing the team to ten men. This dismissal severely hampered EKFC’s chances of mounting a comeback.

Shortly after, in the 73rd minute, Matthew Henderson re-entered the fray, replacing the injured Alfie Hall on the right wing. Dundee West Royals capitalised on their numerical advantage, scoring their fifth goal in the 78th minute. EKFC 09s Gold did manage a consolation goal in the 82nd minute through substitute Callum Kerr, who struck from outside the box with his right foot, providing a rare moment of joy for the visitors.

The final substitution for EKFC came in the 84th minute when Shay Christie returned to replace the injured Mark McGuiness at left back. The match saw one last yellow card for Dundee West Royals in the 85th minute, but no further goals followed.

Steve Graham’s performance at right back stood out for EKFC 09s Gold, earning him the player of the match accolade despite the heavy defeat. The visitors will look to regroup after this challenging cup tie, while Dundee West Royals advance with a convincing 5-1 victory at Downfield Pavilion.