Sporting Khalsa 0 Halesowen Town 5

Halesowen’s Simeon Cobourne thumped four goals past Sporting Khalsa as the five-star league leaders ran riot to maintain their perfect 100% start to the new campaign.

Yeltz manager Paul Smith was delighted with his team’s fifth straight league win - “it was a complete performance and we really clicked. We defended well and took our chances as we’ve got three really good strikers. There’s a desire and hunger here now and it’s a reward for working hard over the holiday weekend.”

Miracle Okafor headed wide as the hosts earned three early corners but Halesowen soon took complete control with a superb team performance. The Yeltz went ahead in the 18th minute when home goalkeeper Raajan Gill brought down hard-working striker Jamie Insall and Richard Gregory stepped up to tuck away the resulting penalty, sending Gill the wrong way.

Looking dangerous going forward, Halesowen doubled the advantage in the 35th minute when Gregory set Insall free with a terrific pass from his own half and Insall in turn set up Cobourne to beat goalkeeper Gill.

Todd Ferrier and Liam Armstrong fired half-chances wide for Khalsa after the interval but

Halesowen soon increased the pressure further in a good start to the second half and turned the screw with three further goals. The visitors continually exploited Sporting’s high defensive line and Cobourne made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute when Insall was set free again to beat the last man and he selflessly crossed for Cobourne to sweep home in a carbon copy of Halesowen’s second goal.

The resolute and solid Yeltz defence was rarely troubled and Cobourne completed his hat-trick in space with another smart finish past Gill in the 65th minute. Gill then failed to gather Cobourne’s tame 69th minute shot as dominant Halesowen made it 5-0 against a rattled home defence.

Sporting Khalsa: Raajan Gill; Carlo Franco, Lewis Worsey (Andy Parsons 74), Matt Fulloway, Tesfa Robinson, Todd Ferrier, James McGrady, Kieron Whittaker, Miracle Okafor (Josh McKenzie 59), Liam Armstrong, Sean Williams (Jumaane Meggoe 59). Subs Not Used: Mason Birch, Imudianosa Okojie.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Josh Ezewele, Josh Quaynor, Tom Turton, Kieran Morris (c), Nat Kelly, Jack Holmes, Nathan Hayward, Jamie Insall (Richard Smith 72), Richard Gregory (Brad Birch 62), Simeon Cobourne (Matt Funge 70). Subs Not Used: Dexter Dudley-Toole, Bailey Fuller.

Referee: J. Allsopp                   Attendance: 420