Atwal pounces with seconds to spare to earn Khalsa deserved three points

A depleted Khalsa scored a dramatic last-minute winner to claim all three points against struggling Belper at St Nicholas Park.
Jasminder Khakh goes close for Khalsa. 
MHLC-16-11-13 Khalsa hockey Nov78Jasminder Khakh goes close for Khalsa. 
MHLC-16-11-13 Khalsa hockey Nov78
Jasminder Khakh goes close for Khalsa. MHLC-16-11-13 Khalsa hockey Nov78

A new-look attack, containing Jas Singh, Gurminder Ghattaura and Savhan Singh Lall caused the visitors problems but it was Jay Nagra’s pace on the flanks that won Khalsa their first short corner which was put away by his younger brother Aaron.

Khalsa grew in confidence with some excellent possession and pinpoint long balls from captain Sean Robinson making it difficult for Belper to gain any attacking momentum.

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The visitors did create two short corners, but home keeper Elliot Rider stood strong.

At the other end, Aaron Nagra twice came close to doubling the lead from penalty corners, seeing one pushed on to the woodwork by the Belper keeper and another stopped on the line by a defender.

Jas Singh ran through the heart of the Belper defence after great link-up play with Jack Wells but he was again denied by the in-form Belper keeper.

Dave Harris and Amritpal Atwal were introduced into the Khalsa forward line for the second half but encouraged to only be a goal down, Belper grew in confidence and posed more of an attacking threat.

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They got their reward in the 60th minute when a ball across the circle presented John Bradshaw with a simple tap-in.

Gurminder Ghattaura’s solo effort came close to restoring Khalsa’s advantage but the slightest of deflections from the Belper defence turned the ball the wrong side of the post, while Harris had a shot saved by the Belper keeper.

With seconds remaining, a last-ditch attack from Khalsa produced a winner.

Jay Nagra initiated it with a scintillating run before finding Amritpal Atwal who, with it all to do, coolly slotted the ball home to seal the points for Khalsa.

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