2.30pm 25 May 2025
Khalsa Football Federation, Walsall Tournament, Premier Division Final at Aston University
FC Khalsa Leicester 5 Guru Nanak Gurdwara Leicester 3 (att 170)
I've been to a few Khalsa ties in recent years but this was the first time I've seen one of the finals, which are on day two of the weekend tournament.
The Walsall competition is, like its Birmingham counterpart, held at the Aston University Recreation Centre in Great Barr. More than 20 years ago I saw Aston's students play on what is now labelled 'pitch six', but this game was on 'pitch one'.
Not surprisingly it's the pitch closest to the pavilion. The pavilion side has a pair of dugouts and was roped off, behind which a grass bank provides a good view.
With various youth and veterans competitions, for hockey as well as football, it was a busy place. Despite competition from other attractions a decent crowd concentrated on a final that matched two Leicester sides.
GNG (as Guru Nanak Gurdwara are usually known) got off to the worst possible start. They conceded after just two minutes, and were 2-0 down after 15. A penalty for handball halved the deficit but they then quickly gifted Khalsa a third.
It was 4-1 early in the second half, but GNG had won Saturday's quarter and semi finals on penalties after high-scoring draws, and they were creating enough chances not to be ruled out.
They got one back with an hour played, but suffered a blow when they had a player red-carded for a foul which denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Khalsa hit the inside of the post with the resulting free kick.
Despite being a man down GNG continued to press, and were rewarded after 78 minutes when they made it 4-3. A remarkable comeback looked more than possible, but they couldn't score a fourth, and Khalsa exploited inevitable gaps at the back for a decisive late fifth.
Credit to both teams for providing such an entertaining and high quality game, especially considering they had both played twice just 24 hours earlier.
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