Leek’s 100 per cent start to the season comes unstuck at Khalsa

David Harris goes close for Khalsa in their Midlands Premier Division clash at home to Leek. Picture: Morris Troughton

Despite Leek coming into the game on the back of five straight wins, Khalsa made the better start with only a last-ditch tackle denying the hosts after good link-up play between Jas Singh and Gurminder Ghattaura.

Leek had the first set-piece opportunity but keeper Elliot Rider stood up well to deny the forward.

At the other end, Aaron Nagra was similarly denied from a penalty corner.

The deadlock was eventually broken when a Leek forward pounced on a loose ball after the initial shot had been blocked.

Khalsa probed for an equaliser and David Harris was denied by a fine save from the Leek keeper.

After the interval, Leek almost caught Khalsa on the break but a great challenge from Chris Darling set up a swift counter from which Ghattaura won a short corner.

Ben Scott stepped up to put the ball high into the net to bring the hosts level and they continued to pin the league leaders back with Mandeep Sandhar working hard alongside Amritpal Atwal.

They got their reward when a deliberate foul on David Harris inside the circle was rewarded with a penalty stroke, coolly slotted home by Harris.

Khalsa pressed for third but Leek adopted a more attacking formation and were presented with the chance to equalise when they were awarded a short corner.

Rider made the initial save but the loose ball fell kindly to the Leek attacker who brought the visitors level.

Khalsa entertain North Stafford tomorrow (2.30pm).

Khalsa 2nds claimed their first Midlands Premier victory of the campaign with a convincing 8-1 win at Leek.

Navdeep Singh Hayer and Darshane Singh Theara both scored hat-tricks, with Sav Singh Lall and Anit Chudasama completing the scoring.

A player shortage left Khalsa 3rds a player down for the majority of their home clash with Leicester Westleigh.

However, despite falling behind, Khalsa went in at the half-time break 2-1 up courtesy of goals from Manroop Singh Sarai and Vinny Singh.

Tired home legs allowed Westleigh to pull it back to 2-2 before the late arrival of Kika Sidhu gave Khalsa fresh impetus.

No longer at a numerical disadvantage, Khalsa scored three times in quick succession to win 5-2, with Manroop completing his hat-trick and Adam Ballerby also on target.

Two goals from Balbir Singh Sarai earned Khalsa 4ths a hard-fought 2-1 win at Bromsgrove 5ths.