Sporting Khalsa Updates

[juanillo]

Finished 2-2

[juanillo]

The best thing about today was that we didn't lose and a draw was probably a fair result, but neither team showed great quality today. We should have shackled their no. 10 better as nearly all their threatening play came through him and we didn't cotton on soon enough.

[juanillo]

Spalding and Stamford both won

[andy]

Lots of endeavour, little quality, still can't beat the top sides.

[DJ]

Northern Premier League Midlands – Monday, 2nd January 2023

Halesowen Town 2 Sporting Khalsa 2

Richard Gregory scored early and late to share the points with Sporting Khalsa as Halesowen dropped their first home points of the season in a robust New Year’s holiday game, writes DJ.

Yeltz joint-manager Martin Sockett admitted that “2-2 was a fair result. We had a good few chances in the first half, but they are a good unit and work hard. But we kept going and the second half felt a bit like a cup tie. There’s a long way to go in the season yet.” Khalsa manager Ian Rowe enthused, “we should’ve won and been 3-1 or 4-1 up in the second half. We bounced back with two good goals on the counter-attack and then missed two clearcut chances. I’m proud.”

Nat Kelly’s 4th minute header was gathered by visiting goalkeeper Sam Arnold from McKauley Manning’s left-wing free-kick. But Halesowen soon made it a perfect start to their 150th anniversary year when Simeon Cobourne played the ball in for GREGORY to side-step goalkeeper Arnold and fire the opening goal into the net. Kieren Donnelly then burst forward in the 14th minute to drill the ball just wide of Khalsa’s goal.

In further home chances, Gregory’s 25th minute shot was held by Arnold at the end of a good Yeltz move and Donnelly was free in the 27th minute but the chance went begging.

Sporting Khalsa came into the game and forced a series of corners midway through the first half with Sean Williams blasting high and wide in the 30th minute. Harry Cunningham poked a shot at home goalkeeper Dan Platt from the edge of the penalty area after 32 minutes and Platt then blocked Liam Armstrong four minutes later.

But the visitors stunned the bumper home crowd of 1,247 to take the lead with two similar goals late in the first half, with the home defence was found wanting. Miracle Okafor was left free in the area down the right after 40 minutes and although Platt initially kept him out, James McGRADY turned the loose ball home. The Yeltz were exposed again down the right just two minutes later with Okafor left free again to set up Josh McKENZIE to put Sporting Khalsa ahead as Halesowen switched off.

After the break Donnelly hit a low shot wide and Cobourne was put through in the 50th minute but failed to beat goalkeeper Arnold. Josh Quaynor’s 65th minute cross was then met with a clever flick from Gregory, only for Arnold to save for a corner at the foot of his post.

As Halesowen tried to press to find a way back into the game, they only left openings for Sporting to finish the game off. Another 66th minute ball through the middle found Okafor all alone, but he drove wide of the post and Okafor then nodded another chance wide when free in the penalty area again just six minutes later.

Halesowen rescued a point when GREGORY blasted home a 77th minute penalty after Josh Ezewele was bundled over in the penalty area at the end of a fine run. Late on, Cobourne’s fierce shot was turned away for an 83rd minute corner after being set up by substitute Ash Sammons and in injury time home captain Rob Evans headed Quaynor’s cross wide.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Josh Ezewele, Josh Quaynor, Tom Turton (Ash Sammons 70), Rob Evans (c), Nat Kelly, Kieren Donnelly, Nathan Hayward (Jamie Insall 79), McKauley Manning (Kieran Morris 66), Richard Gregory, Simeon Cobourne. Subs Not Used: Oscar Tonge, Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham.

Sporting Khalsa: Sam Arnold; Andy Parsons, Harry Cunningham (Arman Khoshkhoo 85), Matt Fulloway, Tesfa Robinson, Todd Ferrier, Liam Armstrong (Kieron Whittaker 66), Sean Williams, Josh McKenzie (Gurjit Singh 89), Miracle Okafor, James McGrady. Subs Not Used: Remie Birch, Lewis Worsey.

Referee: Richard Walker Attendance: 1,247
Booked: Cunningham (16), McKenzie (21), Cobourne (33), Donnelly (45)
‘Tulleys Print’ HTFC Man of the Match selected by Kath Upton, Asha Kane and Layla Latham: Josh Ezewele

[Brightgoldenhaze]

Lots of endeavour, little quality, still can't beat the top sides.

I take your general point but we did beat them 5-0 earlier in the season!

[andy]

Lots of endeavour, little quality, still can't beat the top sides.

I take your general point but we did beat them 5-0 earlier in the season!

.....and lost to Boldmere, lost to Spalding, lost to Stamford. Ditto the sides at the top in the last few years.

[Jefftoad76]

Feeling concerned after todays game,looked in total control went 1 uo then donnely missed a sitter
Then khalsa scored 2 identical goals and missed 2 golden chances in 2nd half till we rescued the game with the pen
My opinions on our faults kelly looks wobbly and we missed morris today,all of our players are quite similiar small slow i feel we need more options in height pace and strenght,nothing really changes the game with the suns as very much like for like therefore not affecting the game
We dont seem to close down or pressure quick enough like teams do to us and why when we get a chamce to shoot we just roll it towarfs the goalkeeper with a week shot,sim please stay onside and on your feet
If were to go up we need to make more signings that have height pace and strenght especially in forward positions

[lutleyyeltz]

The word on the street is that Greg Mills has signed and we are awaiting ratification from the FA.
That should p*ss the Glassboys off!

[Johnny Bud]

Just been confirmed on the official site!