It was a night where Josh Brehaut would give starting debuts to Tom Myles and Rome Golbourne-Taylor as he used his squad to its full extent, it also saw starts for George Milner and well deserved rests for Dino Visser and Billy Reeves. Blues fell behind to an early goal from James McGrady but but played some entertaining football to lead 3-1 before conceding again from James McGrady on 76 minutes to leave a nervy 15 minutes to see the game out.

Tom Myles is a young keeper on loan from Manchester United and performed admirably, whereas Rome Golbourne-Taylor made the step up from our Staffs County Premier League to play in back three.

Sporting Khalsa came out of the blocks really quickly with high intensity not allowing Leek to settle and it looked as though it could be a long night as McGrady scored on 6 minutes. Julius Ndene was adjudged to have committed a foul on the edge of the area with the referee awarding a direct free kick, McGrady stepped up and curled the ball high over the wall for the ball to dip just under the bar and nestle in the net giving Myles no chance.

On the balance of early play it was probably deserved but Leek settled and started to pass more fluently particularly down the left hand side. The Blues began to come into the game more and it was Hayden Campbell first to try his luck. Milner fed the ball to Campbell with his back to goal but he was fouled just outside the areas as he turned, he stepped up and curled his shot around the wall only for it to rattle the post with keeper Sam Arnold Stranded.

Leek didnt have to wait too long for the equaliser as Olly Heywood advanced down the left before turning infield and passing to Tom Scully who played a neat give and go to Onyeka, before placing a lovely curling shot from the edge of the area to leave Arnold with no chance, his second goal in the space of 4 days.

A good spell of play followed for Leek as they continued to move the ball well and clear the ball under pressure, to be fair Khalsa always looked a threat up front so Leek needed to be on their mettle.

On 35 minutes Cambell but Leek into the lead, again it was Heywood on the left who picked out Milner in midfield, he played a simple through ball to the advancing Campell who controlled the ball and spun away from his marker before caressing the ball into the net, wide of Arnold as he stretched to save the ball.

The only worry of the evening was the withdrawal of Tyrese Onyeka on 40 minutes, who pulled with what looked to be a hamstring and was replaced by Lucas Weir.

Leek has one further chance when Heywood fed Alex Hurst from the left into the box but his shot was saved by Ashton for a corner.

LEEK TOWN 2 - SPORTING KHALSA 1 HT

Khalsa came out with renewed vigour and had an early attempt from Grewall-Pollard who advanced down the left to shoot across Myles, who was equal to the effort.

Minutes later Khalsa had another chance through Whittaker, a stray pass from Golbourne-Taylor landed as his feet but the Leek defence recovered to partially block his shot for Myles to recover the ball.

Leek then scored a lovely goal on 54 minutes sweeping the ball out of defence, Scully picked the ball up just in front of the area before passing to Ndene, who in turn found Campbell, he picked out Shenton who played another great through ball to Alex Hurst whose pace took the ball wide of Arnold to slot the ball in from a tight angle on the left.

That should have been the end of the game and Brehaut took the opportunity to replace Campbell with Potts. However Khalsa were not done and a long ball out of defence found Jayden Campell on the left who tried a quick snap shot but again Myles was equal to it.

Porter and Edwards were brought on for Scully and Golbourne-Taylor, and Porter was soon in the action has he played a ball deep out of defence to Okome who was now at right back, he delivered a delicate cross to Potts at the back post but his header was wide.

On 76 minutes Khalsa made it very interesting has McGrady scored his second, a long kick from Myles was headed back out of defence and Ward played a long through ball to McGrady who split the centre halves as he finished calmly past Myles.

This would lead to a nervous 15 minutes for the Blues as the game should have been put to bed, Khalsa had a couple of decent attempts namely Jayden Campell and then a freekick right at the death which did not test the keeper, the referee decided that was enough and blew for full time.

Brehaut was able to bring on Reuben Pointon for Alex Hurst to hand the 16 year old his first appearance for Leek Town, a great advert for our current BTEC programme, adult pathway and testament to our junior section of which Reuben has progressed through.

LEEK TOWN 3 - SPORTING KHALSA 2 FT

REPORT BY MORE NEWS FROM NOWHERE

So Leek Town advance to the Semi-Finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup for the forth consecutive season, and await the draw to find out their opponents.

The Blues have a few days rest before the visit of high flying Morpeth Town on Saturday 9 March for some Pitching In NPL Premier League action.

You can buy your online tickets below

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