BANNISTER DOUBLE SEES KHALSA TO 3 POINTS

SPORTING KHALSA 5 V HIGHGATE UTD 2
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ THE ASPRAY24 ARENA
5 MARCH 2016 ---3PM

THE MAIN STAND AT THE ASPRAY 24 ARENA

A double strike from Craig Bannister in a 9 minute spell just after half time sent Sporting Khalsa on their way to three points after a tight and full on first half had ended all square at 2 apiece.  A late goal from David Meese made the goal difference 3 to finish the score line 5-2 against fellow high flyers Highgate Utd.
As usual the last few days had been spent playing Michael Fish with weather checks on the hour and after last weeks trip east in better weather negated any checks todays game was a return to normal service!  Thanks to Khalsa secretary Andy the night before this game he gave the blog a positive answer of 'no planned inspections' so off we went mid morning for a trip from base to station to Wolverhampton.

MOLINEUX LOOKING SMART



Morning saw us greeted by Sarah our regular and friendly ticket clerk who presented us today with a complimentary cake with apparently 600 calories, thanks Sarah!  X Country supplied the usual 4 carriage cattle class service to Brum with standing all around.  We managed to secure a couple of positions in the cycle rack area mind you one guy was flat out in the luggage rack having a sleep with his partner perched on the edge of the racks, come on X Country take a look at the capacity its increasingly ridiculous and does stop people travelling to the West Midlands.
Fast change at New St saw us depart on a nice Virgin West Coast main line electric unit to arrive in Wolverhampton at 1245.  Its a few years since I was last in the town and some things have changed with a nice spruce up but with 3/4 of an hour built in the choice was either Willenhall town centre or a perimeter visit to Molineux a ground I last watched a game at in the 1980s, the dark old days of division 4.  The ground is a wowzer it looks superb from my strained views around the various vantage spots and although the blog doesn't attend many professional games I really want to pop along to re visit the Molineux for a game.  Mick had found his way into the superstore which was well stocked behind the Stan Cullis statue.  We left by the Billy Wright bronze on Waterloo Rd which is a fantastic site on the way into the town.

STANDING PROUD BILLY WRIGHT

Back to the bus station just to see the 529 service departing from the stand but luckily within 10 minutes the next one turned up and we scrambled for the upstairs front seats like excited 8 year olds.  Ten minutes elapsed crossing Neachells Lane for a departure at Noose Lane home of Sporting Khalsa, well a further 15 minutes down the road would find us there anyway.

WE ARE THERE

Approach to the ground through new and established houses saw the clubs ground sponsors Aspray24 on the right and over the road The Aspray24 Arena resplendent with its 4 4 2 lounge and bar surrounded by 5 a side 3 g pitches with to the rear of the club the main pitch.  Entrance was a bit tricky with the main section fenced off with Herras fencing we finally saw a walkway to the far left of the 3g pitches that allowed us to gain access.  It would appear that this is due to the players having hanging rooms just away from the pitch side and the obvious need for separation from the entrance.  The club I believe are looking at new changing rooms so this should change soon and create a more obvious entrance. 

EXTERNAL FRONTAGE AT THE ASPRAY24 ARENA

The ground is of course the former home of Willenhall which was purchased by Khalsa when the former club got into difficulties however it is to the current owners credit that they have spent a lot of money upgrading the ground and external facilities for community use and gaining a regular income flow.  The ground is cavernous and apparently had a massive pitch which has been taken in and shortened and when you see the floodlight positioning you can clearly see its previous size.
Usual entrance plus programmes purchased Mick went in search of curry, although we ended us with the inside ground catering and went for chips and tea, and I went off on a circuit.  The first thing that strikes you about the ground is the space around the back of the stands and the far goal allowing plenty of future room for development or maybe some more 3g mini pitches which apparently are being well used.  The turnstile entrance brings you in behind the near goals with most club activities in this area including snack bar, toilets, hospitality and tunnel entrance to the pitch.  Moving down the immediate touchline is a smart refurbished stand featuring yellow and blue seats with 'Sporting Khalsa' embossed on the front fascia.

TERRACED STAND

Walking round to the far goal the club have installed a paving brick walkway and to the opposite side of the ground we have a small covered stand which is set back along way from the pitch again I guess this is to do with the former pitch side.  Another interesting feature is the shortage of dug outs however the technical area is a massive space again made up of paving bricks with to the rear a section of the stands seats allocated as dug outs, a different touch.
Before the game we made a courtesy visit to match day secretary Andy, plus and thanks to the Highgate Utd secretary for help with the teams.

JAMES PEMBERTON SPORTING KHALSA KEEPER

 The blog had previously come across Khalsa at Heanor in a League Cup tie and met Sporting's keeper James Pemberton's dad and thankfully at about 2.30 I managed to recognise the gentleman again and we made re acquaintances before catching up with James, ex Derby County trainee, thanks guys good to catch up with you all.  I got a kindly invite into hospitality at half time and managed to sample some cake, an ice bun and a hot coffee-thank you for your kind invite.
Just before kick off I passed a greeting to the professional photographer and after a while we got into conversation when I realised I had met Gary before through another top notch photographer Barry Dyke, it was good to catch up and I look forward to seeing his quality shots, Gary also does the programme at The Aspray24 which is a nice effort too.

FREE KICK FOR HIGHGATE'S ELLIS

Sporting Khalsa are flying high in 5th spot with Highgate Utd just one place behind with both clubs looking to haul in the gap between themselves and Hereford.  Khalsa have had a remarkable rise since their formation in 1991 and find themselves in Willenhall from their previous home at their former Bloxwich ground.  The club have developed a community ethos which they are clearly developing at their base which is also undergoing an upgrade too and its a ground that I will look to visiting again to check out these developments.
To the game then and after a good start from Highgate it was the home side that took a 5th minute lead when Simeon Townsend lashed the ball home from 14 yards.  Highgate were straight back at Khalsa when Curvin Ellis hit the outside of the post but the visitors were level on 10 minutes when a Tom Lacey free kick off the right was met by a powerful header from Aaron Brown.

REFEREE GLAZZARD TIP TOES THROUGH THE GRASS

Referee Glazzard was having to be alert and although at times he seemed a little over fussy I think the longer the half went on the blog realised he had to keep a firm grip on this game and he did just that with a collection of cautions and a couple of interventions from his stand side assistant.

A QUIET WORD MR ROWE

The game was full on with some sharp challenges and lots of contesting of decisions.  But the goals were soon flowing again when Brendan Murphy put Highgate in front with a lovely lob from just inside of the box but not to be outdone Khalsa pulled it back to 2-2 when Marvin Nisbett fed the ball into the box after a jinking run down the left it was cleared back out to him14 yards out and he drove the ball past Brad Catlow in the visitors goal.

MARVIN NISBETT APPROACHES FOR THE EQUALISER AT 2-2

Break time and cakes and coffee plus 15 minutes saw this intriguing game ready to re start and we entered a 9 minute period that really wrapped the game up for Sporting.  Just two minutes into the second half the ball fall to Banister who fired home a sweet low shot into the bottom right hand corner to put the home side 3-2 to the good and then the goal of the game, season[?].  It was a double for Bannister on the right angled edge of the penalty box he floated a dipping shot over Catlow into the far corner of the net, a superb strike that was worth the admission money alone.

BANNISTER[HALF IN VIEW ON THE ANGLE OF THE BOX] WONDER GOAL MAKES IT 4-2

These two quick strikes took the wind out of Highgate who must have been shocked because the first half has been so evenly contested the consequently struggled to force their way back into the game although had they have got one back we would have been in for a cracker of a finish to this game.  the game was still in need of a sharp refereeing performance and Mr Glazzard overall showed well in a game that must have been testing of him.

Khalsa wrapped the game up with a fifth three minutes from the end of time when David Meese fired home a shot that Trevor Edwards despairing dive just could not keep out of the net.
Late in the second half a bit more work was created for the club when a sharp clearance crashed into the Sporting Khalsa fascia  of the stand and shattered the 'h', unbelievable had you tried to have done it you probably couldn't have.
A superb little match for the neutral, Highgate would be disappointed as the final score line was probably a little harsh on them but Khalsa had taken their chances well and secured the three points with some lovely goals.

GIVE US A 'H' A STARY CLEARANCE ALSO CLEARS OUT THE 'H'

We departed via the appropriately named 4 4 2 lounge which we had not seen on our arrival and with an impressive selection of TV screens its worth arriving early at the Aspray24 Arena.
Retracing our steps to the main road we arrived at the bus stop just as a '529' turned up and we soon pulled up at Wolverhampton bus station.  A short walk to the train station saw a departure at 1745 on a Euston bound train to Birmingham although it was slightly disconcerting that the external displays showed Glasgow!   Just time in New St to obtain a snack and jump aboard our X Country service back to base station seats gained for the journey, I take it all back, we were able to settle down for the journey back and discuss what had been an enjoyable day and first visit to Sporting Khalsa.  A nice friendly club helped along the way by some friendly supporters who hopefully will increase in numbers for this forward looking club.