Match Report  |  Gresley Rovers vs Sporting Khalsa

Alfie Burley

Goals either side of half-time from James McGrady and Josh McKenzie sealed a deserved victory for a well organised away side.

Rovers had turned in three magnificent performances before this but were caught off-guard by a side that had been beaten 5-0 by Halesowen in their last outing.

In the first half there wasn’t much between the two sides, with chances at a premium. James Harrison did have a very early opportunity though when he curled over inside the first minute.

Aside from that first opportunity however, Khalsa looked the more promising side going forward and nearly took the lead when McGrady was left alone on the left, but his deflected cross was just missed by the head of Miracle Okafor.

Defences were very much on top though, that was until the 38th minute when a lapse in concentration from Rovers allowed Khalsa an opening.

A bouncing ball was latched onto by McGrady just outside the 18-yard box and the midfielder made no mistake in finding the bottom corner to put his side ahead.

The away side began the second period as they ended the first, and suffocated Rovers. With Carl Abbott readying Kai Moore to enter the action Khalsa doubled their lead.

Kieron Whittaker broke through the Gresley midfield and defence uncontested before forcing Lewis Fenney into a parried save. Unfortunately for the ‘keeper the loose ball landed at the feet of McKenzie who had the simple task of thumping the ball into a vacated net.

With Gresley now forced to try and get back into the game, Khalsa increasingly found space in behind, and Fenney had to be alert to push away Okafor’s attempt at the near post.

In the 70th minute, Rovers were inches from reducing the deficit, but could only watch as Bekir Halil’s curling free kick agonisingly struck the woodwork, with Niall Towle a whisker away from nodding the ball home at the back post.

Yet the away side could’ve extended their lead with just a minute left on the clock, with McKenzie producing an outstanding strike from range which cannoned off the crossbar.

The two-goal advantage proved enough for Khalsa though as they comfortably saw out five minutes of injury time to take home a valuable three points.