Express & Star

Basford United 2 Sporting Khalsa 3

Published
Last updated

Craig Bannister grabbed his eight and ninth FA Cup goals of the season as Sporting Khalsa's magical FA Cup run continued.

more

Basford, who won the Midland Football League in some style last year, came up against a determined and battling Khalsa side.

They were in no mood to pay too much respect to their higher league opponents, as they booked a place in third qualifying round.

The opening phases were lively and energetic, albeit with few opportunities of any particular note.

Basford goalkeeper Saul Deeney needed to be alert to punch away a dangerous Mensah Kinch cross.

Just a minute later, David Boaf and Ben Hutchinson broke down the right and Khalsa goalkeeper James Pemberton needed to act in an unorthodox manner, sliding out of his area to clear with his feet.

Basford took the lead on 22 minutes when their two stand-out players – Jermaine Hollis and Hutchinson – combined with the former taking a corner which was slotted home by the latter.

[related_posts title="More on Sporting Khalsa"]

On the half hour, a Tim Jackson free-kick caused mayhem in the Basford box but Bannister couldn't quite react quickly enough to turn past Deeney.

As has been so often the case this season, Midland League outfit Khalsa were a different team in the second half.

Bannister set up Kinch within a minute of the restart, who saw his drive from the edge of the box well saved.

But, on 58 minutes, the game turned on its head when Bannister rampaged through, held off his marker and slotted past Deeney to equalise.

The home side were still catching their breath when centre-half Tes Robinson grabbed his fourth goal of the season, heading home a corner from Jackson.

Dave Meese should have put the game beyond the home side on 59 minutes. A botched clearance leftthe midfielder with an open goal, but his shot was saved by the scrambling Deeney.

But Basford rallied and Hutchinson headed just over after brilliant link-up play between Correy Grantham and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas.

The hosts were level on 74 minutes when Wiggins-Thomas powered home from a Blair Anderson cross.

Hutchinson almost put Basford ahead on 80 minutes, holding off Roger and Robinson and lobbing onto the roof of the net.

But on 82 minutes, perhaps against the run of play, Bannister headed home to send the travelling Khalsa contingent into raptures.