Khalsa wrap up title with four games to spare

Gurminder Ghattaura shot agonisingly wide and Aaron Nagra hit the upright from a short corner as Khalsa started impressively on their quest for an 18th successive league win.

Warwick, who were equally in need of the points as they look to stave off relegation, were not without chances of their own. Jon Byrd went close with an audacious lob, while Ant Baxter twice shot wide when well placed.

Two minutes before the break, Khalsa broke the deadlock. Jas Singh’s slick stick work in combination with Dharminder Singh set up a short corner and Aaron Nagra deflected it home to put Khalsa into a half-time lead.

Khalsa dominated possession after the break and Nagra converted an early short corner to give the hosts a useful cushion.

A sublime move involving Micky Hayer, Singh and Ghattaura was then finished off by Hayer to send Khalsa cruising into the National League.

Khalsa’s second team maintained the feel-good factor with a 4-2 win at Aldridge & Walsall on Saturday.

Anit Chudasama missed a penalty stroke after Savhan Lall had been tripped while rounding the Walsall keeper and Khalsa found themselves a goal down at the break.

The visitors responded well and goals from Navdeep Singh Hayer, Lall and Chudasama put Khalsa in command before Walsall enjoyed a period of pressure.

However, a swift counter-attack led to a fourth for Khalsa, with Ray Hung’s cross being deflected in off a defender’s foot.

Walsall pulled a goal back on the break but it was a mere consolation.

The second string followed Saturday’s win with another three points on Sunday to further cement their position at the top of the West Midlands Premier.

In a lacklustre display, Khalsa needed a late goal from Hung to beat Kings Heath Pickwick.

Lall had put Khalsa into an early lead only for Kings Heath to equalise ten minutes from time.

A Ravinder Singh Bharaj strike was the only highlight of a 3-1 defeat for Khalsa 3rds against Old Halesonians.

Warwick 5ths put bottom-of-the- table Melton to the sword with Andy Griffin scoring six in a 12-0 romp.

Julian Chronicle chipped in with a hat-trick, with Jake Lota (2) and Tom Bickerton completing the scoring for the South East Division Two promotion-chasers.

Second-half goals from Aggie Poole and Rebecca Howe earned Warwick Ladies’ 2nds a 2-1 win over Nuneaton.

Leamington Men’s 2nds maintained their West Midlands Division Two promotion push with a 4-2 victory over Wednesbury 2nds. Lee Foster, Dan Jones, Tim Briscoe and Matt Wright scored the goals with Dave Buckingham providing three assists.

In Warwickshire Division Two, Leamington Ladies 2nds XI scraped a 1-0 win against Edgbaston with Nic Williams scoring the only goal of the game.

The ladies’ 3rds, meanwhile, went goal crazy, routing Solihull Blossomfield 2nds 10-0. Forwards Debbie Burton, Kendall Sands and Andrea Ralph amassed eight goals between them, with Liz Jones and Emma Basden-Smith completing the scoring.

Emily Steer scored a hat-trick as the ladies’ 4ths beat Sutton Coldfield 6ths 7-0.