A quick start to the game saw Sporting Khalsa put together a neat passing move and create an early opportunity from a corner.
However, it was the travelling side, Rugby Borough, who took the lead after seven minutes.

A strong spell of possession ended with Lily Greenslade’s shot being pushed onto the post by Elise Stocking, only for Jess Camwell to tap in the rebound from close range.

Camwell almost doubled her tally on the 20-minute mark. After Khalsa failed to clear their lines, Amelia Hazard pounced on the loose ball and countered quickly. Her low cross found Camwell, but her shot was superbly blocked by Sarah Tweedie for a corner.

Moments later, the home side produced a great opportunity to level the scores. Another dangerous corner caused panic in the Rugby penalty area, with Khalsa applying their first real spell of pressure.

Khalsa’s pressure grew down the left flank, with wing-back Skye Owen winning her battles consistently around the half-hour mark. Her resulting cross, however, was collected by goalkeeper Poppy Soper.

The pressure would be rewarded moments later — this time down the right flank — as Ania Denham and Olivia Stubbs linked up superbly.
Denham held the ball up well before sliding Stubbs through on goal. Her effort took multiple deflections before eventually finding the net to level the scores.

As the first half drew to a close, Khalsa grew into the game, enjoying spells of possession and restricting Rugby from playing freely, effectively nullifying the visitors’ attacking rhythm.

In added time, Borough mounted another wave of pressure, but Khalsa held firm and were rewarded with a free kick that allowed them to advance up the pitch once more.

Rugby began the second half as they ended the first — moving the ball quickly and putting Khalsa under sustained pressure. Their first effort of the half came in the 51st minute, a low shot gathered at the second attempt by Stocking.

That pressure eventually told as Rugby regained the lead. Working space down the right flank, Borough delivered a cross into the box where Greenslade — this time the scorer — struck a superb effort into the top right corner, leaving Stocking with no chance.

As Khalsa settled, their main attacking spark came from Daisy Wickett, who frequently picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward with intent. These spells hinted at a potential threat, but Rugby’s defence remained disciplined and difficult to break down.

With 15 minutes left to play, Borough continued to control possession. Having nullified the threat of wing-back Brown down the left, they looked comfortable playing much of the half in Khalsa’s defensive third.

Rugby nearly added a third when a half-clearance fell kindly to substitute Mai Moncaster on the edge of the box, forcing Stocking into another strong save.

Their third goal came shortly after from the penalty spot, awarded despite a determined defensive showing from Khalsa. Nicky Potts stepped up and converted confidently into the bottom-left corner.

A brilliant last-ditch challenge by Ella Thompson then denied Moncaster as she broke through one-on-one with Stocking, keeping Khalsa’s hopes of a late comeback alive.

With only minutes remaining, Khalsa created their best chance of the half.

A free kick from the right by Thompson almost found Wickett lurking at the far post, but the ball wouldn’t fall kindly and Rugby were able to clear. Khalsa did pull one back in the 89th minute. Thompson’s delivery was expertly met by captain Megan Cann, who powered a header back across goal and into the top corner, leaving Soper stranded.

Unfortunately for Khalsa, the goal came just too late to spark a full comeback, and they ultimately fell to a 3–2 defeat.

Next Game: Sporting Khalsa Women v West Bromwich Albion, Sunday 16th November - 2pm KO.