Match Report: Sporting Khalsa (a)

Vauxhall Motors produced a clinical second-half display to secure a comfortable 4-1 victory over bottom-half side Sporting Khalsa and maintain their push for the play-offs.

Danny Holmes' side, sitting just outside the playoffs in sixth place coming into the game, thought they had taken the lead after only 5 minutes, but veteran striker Kevin Ellison was judged to have been in a offside position when he headed past Khalsa goalkeeper R'avan Constable.

Ellison would make sure he got onto the scoresheet for the 3rd game in a row, when his pressure on keeper Constable forced a mis-control from a back pass, he wasn't going miss from 4 yards out and gave the Motormen the perfect platform going into the break.

Vauxhall doubled their advantage on 62 minutes when Jawad Jebrin slotted home for 0-2 after firing through a crowded box into the far corner.

Sporting Khalsa responded to this setback immediately. After an initial attack was broken up by the superb Daniel Apantaku, making his first start for the team, the away side failed to clear their lines, leaving Kieron Whittaker to waltz his way through some sloppy defending and reducing the arrears to 1-2, briefly raise the home fans hopes.  

Conor Harwood restored the two-goal cushion on 75 minutes thanks to great work from new boy Sam Mann down the right flank, who unselfishly pulled the ball back for Harwood to score when he looked to be in a better shooting position himself.

And it was roles reversed deep into stoppage time for the 4th goal, this time Harwood did all the hard work and pulled the ball back to Mann to score from close range. It no more than the substitute deserved, who showed much endavour after replacing Ellison on the hour mark.

With other results going their way on the day, Vauxhall moved back up into the play spots to 5th place in the table thanks to a superior goal difference to local rivals Lower Breck. The meeting between the two on Easter Monday will be hotly anticipated.