Sporting Khalsa 1-2 The Mikes

A goal out of nowhere separated the teams, in a game of constant fluctuation. It could have been one each within three minutes, a looked-for offside not given to the home defence, and keeper Ben Whiting finding himself out of his area, minus the ball. Thirty seconds’ mayhem finally cleared things, for Callum Smith to return the compliment by fumbling a thirty-five-yard effort from Dominic Perkins - one of three former Mikes in the hosts’ ranks. A healthy crowd of 275 contained a healthy visiting representation, including a good number of junior players and their parents. It was also nice to see both teams playing in their first-choice colours! The Mikes were without prolific marksman Owen Parry (away on holiday) and the suspended Kai Knight, while the bench had a distinctly youthful look - in contrast to Khalsa’s, containing veterans Tesfa Robinson and Sean Williams.

You soon saw why the visiting management were eager to have Johnny Johnston back on loan. It needed two excellent Whiting saves to prevent him scoring, within a five-minute period spanning the game’s quarter mark, as he continually harassed the home rearguard. Khalsa were playing the more fluent football, their guests gamely chasing them, in this regard Ben Usher-Shipway and Harry Sweeney putting in a real shift. Khalsa held an overall majority of the territory in the first half; but, significantly, Boldmere had more shots on target - four, to Khalsa’s one. A retreat from the stand’s front row signalled the arrival of driving rain, which stayed with us for most of the rest of the afternoon. Half time: 0-0.

Four minutes from the recommencement, a long diagonal pass found Johnston. He dribbled in along the goal line, and his centre reached a clutch of players on the near post. From the stand, it looked as if the opening goal was a Dominic Perkins “oggy”; but Andre Brown was named as the scorer. Once a Dilano Reid two yarder had been denied by Smith’s knees, Khalsa brought on the experienced Sean Williams - a threat to any opposition. In a well-behaved joust, Sweeney earned the first of three Boldmere yellows, for upending an opponent just outside the box. A seven-man wall saw the resulting free kick pushed over the bar by Smith. With a quarter of an hour’s standard time left, the contest was decided in rather strange fashion. O’Shane Stewart took a speculative lob at the ball, thirty yards out. As we all waited for it to sail harmlessly over the bar….it nestled in the back of the net. Shortly after this the best move of the match starting in the Mikes half saw Johnston cut inside and shoot only to be thwarted by Whiting yet again. It would have been game set and match
The hosts responded by bringing on a couple of substitutes Armstrong and former Mike Jordan Clarke the latter soon made an impression on the game. With his first touch of the ball, Jordan Clarke seemed to amble unhindered through the Boldmere defence, before pulling a goal back. Visibly enlivened by this, Khalsa started zipping the ball around stylishly. A thirty-yard Liam Armstrong rocket just evaded the Boldmere net, coming off Williams’ backside. Six added minutes were found from somewhere by our official, and our President went into managerial mode, roaring instructions from his seat, as the Mikes moved into “they shall not pass” gear. At two points all ten outfielders were back in the penalty area, to deny an equaliser. Two more yellows followed Ballinger for kicking the ball away and Johnston for a late challenge as time ticked slowly down to the final whistle, and three hard earned points.

Sporting Khalsa: Ben Whiting; Luke Ward; Luke Ward; Dominic Perkins; Todd Ferrier; Matt Fulloway; Robbie Bunn (Liam Armstrong, 79); Chay Tilt; Dilano Reid (Jordan Clarke, 79); Curvin Sanderson-Ellis; Gurjit Singh (Sean Williams, 63); James McGrady.
Subs not used: Tesfa Robinson; Carlo Franco.

Boldmere St Michaels: Callum Smith; Lewis Allison; Harry Sweeney; Joe Hull; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne; Callum Ballinger (Tazivaishe Chibaya, 90); O’Shane Stewart; Andre Brown; Ben Usher-Shipway; Johnny Johnston.
Subs not used: Ross Evans; Pierre Phillips; Romehl Critchlow; Callum North.