Title-chasers held at home by Khalsa

After an extremely long winter break, Khalsa returned to National League Conference North action with a useful point at home to title-chasing Leek.

Leek came into the match on the back of four wins and a draw and drew the first short corner of the game which was well dealt with by home keeper Chris Hurst.

Khalsa responded with a short corner of their own and Aaron Nagra stepped up to powerfully flick the ball into the corner of the goal to draw first blood.

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Khalsa gave themselves a two-goal cushion when, after a fine run down the wing from Scott Angliss, Alex Idione was left unmarked at the top of the circle to send a superb reverse-stick shot into the corner of the net.

Leek responded with a shift in formation and halved the deficit before half-time with a well-executed short corner.

Idione had a chance to restore Khalsa’ two-goal cushion after the interval but produced a tame shot after being put clean through by Jas Singh.

The visitors were controlling possession and had a goal chalked off for dangerous play before Hurst produced a fine save to deny them from the penalty spot.

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They did finally score the leveller they deserved when a good advantage by the umpire allowed Leek to set up their forward for a simple tap-in.

With the scoreline back to 2-2, both sides went in search of a winner and desperate defending saw Leek reduced to nine men and Khalsa also lose a player.

The last chance of the game fell to the home side, with a neat one-two between Idione and Singh leaving the latter with just the keeper to beat. However, the visiting netminder got just enough on the ball to divert it away from goal and ensure honours ended even.

Khalsa 2nds gained four points from their weekend double-header in Midlands One but will have been disappointed to be held by visitors Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.

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Bhavan Singh Thiara put the home side a goal to the good against Sutton, but the strugglers levelled with ten minutes to go.

Khalsa bounced back the following day to thrash rock-bottom Loughborough Town 10-4, but the loss of two points against Sutton leaves their promotion hopes hanging by a thread.

Khalsa’s third string also claimed four points from their two weekend games in West Midlands Division One.

The second-placed side drew 1-1 at struggling Bloxwich thanks to a Balbir Singh Sarai strike and then went on to claim a hard-fought 3-2 win at basement outfit Stone.

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Khalsa had to do it the hard way at Stone, coming back from a goal down to lead 3-1 courtesy of strikes from Gurmail Singh Chana, Satvarg Singh Nijjar and Gullu.

Stone pulled a goal back, but Khalsa held on to move four points clear of North Stafford in the second promotion spot.

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