Harborough Town and Sporting Khalsa’s game lived up to the billing, as the away side edged a goal fest between two of the top five scoring teams in the league.
The first half did little to warm up the crowd as both sides could only muster up half chances, until Todd Ferrier placed the ball on the spot following a foul on Miracle Okafor in the box, dispatching the penalty on the stroke of half time to give Sporting the advantage.
The visitors didn’t seem to need to defrost after the interval, with Josh McKenzie doubling their lead with a low finish into the bottom right corner soon after kickoff, before Nat Ansu, fresh off the bench, got the home side back into the game with an effort that looped over Sam Arnold following a deflection.
The Bees buzzed following the goal and earned a chance to get back on level terms after Rhys Hoenes won a penalty, but James Ireland’s effort was well saved by Arnold to keep the away side ahead.
Sporting gained some momentum following the penalty save and quickly restored their lead back to two, with James McGrady getting on the scoresheet as he did in the reverse fixture.
Ansu replied for the hosts once more with a confident finish that was stroked into the bottom right corner to set up a grand slam finish, but it was not meant to be for Harborough as Sporting held on to claim all three points.
Harborough Town 2
Ansu (59)(78)
Sporting Khalsa 3
Ferrier (45 PEN), McKenzie (51), McGrady (74)
Match Rating: 4*
MOTM: Nat Ansu
Match report by Cristian Bratu