Khalsa narrow the gap on Leek after second-half fireworks

Stuart Gooderham's early second-half goal opened the floodgates at North Stafford.

Khalsa made the most of leaders Leek drawing at Harborne, closing the gap at the top of the Midlands Premier to three points with crushing victory at North Stafford.

Khalsa went behind early on when Sean Robinson’s attempts to stop a short corner on the line led to a penalty stroke, which was converted.

Unfazed by going a goal down, the visitors responded quickly with an Alex Idoine cross finding Steve Davison, whose reverse-stick strike levelled the scores.

Shortly after, Jas Singh nutmegged the keeper to put Khalsa ahead.

However, after the early flurry of chances became scarce.

Idoine and Ben Scott both went close for the visitors, while Elliot Rider in the Khalsa goal was called on following a series of short corners, but the score remained 2-1 at the break.

Khalsa pressed more aggressively after the restart and were rewarded with a thunderous reverse-stick strike into the top corner from Stuart Gooderham.

Idoine converted from a short corner stop, while Chris Darling deflected the ball into the roof of the net to make it 5-1.

David Harris added to the score with a tidy finish and Davison doubled his tally with another sublime touch to deflect the ball home.

With the match won, Khalsa produced some expansive hockey and Gurminder Ghattaura was denied a picturebook goal by a post after intricate one-touch build-up with Jo Colantonio.

Idoine made it 8-1 with another short-corner strike before Harris wrapped up the scoring with his second.