Khalsa open account with Bowdon draw

Bowdon were relegated from the National Premier Division last seaosn and, having kept the bulk of their squad, are among the favourites to bounce back at the first attempt.

Two successive wins have done little to dispel that optimism and despite a promising opening from Khalsa, it was Bowdon who drew first blood with a rebound from a short corner falling to David Egerton, who beat a helpless Chris Hurst at his near post.

Khalsa responded within a minute when a clever ball from Amritpal Atwal found Alex Idione on the edge of the circle and the midfielder produced a clean strike to bring the sides level.

The hosts continued to look dangerous in attack and Jas Singh created a chance for Gurminder Ghattaura who still had a lot to do. However, he kept his nerve well to round the keeper and drive the ball home to put Khalsa ahead.

With a lead to protect, Khalsa were content to allow Bowdon plenty of possession and Hurst had to be alert to maintain his side’s lead.

However, Bowdon’s pressure finally told when a quick break down the left flank left the Khalsa back four stretched and allowed the visitors to draw level courtesy of a deflected strike.

Khalsa 2nds suffered a 5-2 home defeat against a strong Northampton Saints team that had come down from Midlands Premier.

Warwick were held to a 4-4 draw on their return to the Midlands Division One but they will feel they should have taken all three points against Kings Heath Pickwick after opening up a two-goal lead.

Warwick went in front through a neat deflection from Ralph Veltom but Kings Heath responded with an equaliser from a short corner.

Warwick regained their advantage after a composed finish from captain and man-of-the-match Emlyn Evans but were again pegged back by a short corner.

Nick Baker gave the hosts the lead for a third time and Veltom added his second to make it 4-2, but two further short corners earned Kings Heath a share of the spoils.

Warwick 3rds started their West Midlands Premier season with a comfortable 6-1 win over visitors Telford.

John Sawdon hit four, with Pete Hurrell and an own goal completing the scoring.

Warwick’s 5ths also got off to an encouraging start with an emphatic 4-0 win over Sutton Coldfield 9ths.

Close-range finishes from Matt Smith (2), Hamish Hanson and Steve McCarty wrapped up the points for Warwick.

Warwick’s ladies’ 1st slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Stourport 2nds in the Midlands Feeder West.

Warwick were unlucky not to open the scoring after Polly LaPage Norris rounded the keeper, but withthe angle narrowing, she shot agonisingly wide.

Despite Warwick’s bright start, it was the home side who took the lead from a well-worked short corner.

Warwick responded and their perseverance was duly rewarded when Angela Briggs fired in from a short corner.

Warwick keeper Cat Powell produced a man-of-the-match performance to keep the scores level until the break, but Stourport continued to boss the game and were rewarded with a second-half winner.

Leamington Ladies 2nds recovered from going behind to earn a point at University of Birmingham 4ths in Warwickshire Division One.

The students went ahead after a series of penalty corners but Leamington hit back in the second-half through Sarah Gambling.

A first-half hat-trick from Debbie Burton earned Leamington 3rds a 4-1 win at Coventry & North Warwickshire 2nds.

Emma Basden-Smith added a fourth to give Leamington a four-goal cushion at the break, with Coventry clawing back a consolation goal in the second half.

Alex Willetts and Dan Jones were on target as Leamington men’s 2nds opened up their West Midlands Division Two campaign with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich.