MALVERN Town were beaten 3-1 at home by unbeaten Sporting Khalsa in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

In an entertaining encounter, it was Khalsa who almost went ahead in the first minute when Mensah Kinch’s effort struck the angle between post and bar.

Malvern’s first opportunity saw Dave Reynolds run from halfway before threading a ball behind the defence for Matt Turner but he failed to take advantage.

Three minutes later, good movement between Reynolds, Chris Parker, Dan Herbert and Kirk Layton ended with the latter beating the offside trap, holding the ball up and then crossing for Reece King whose shot was turned round the post by keeper James Pemberton. King headed wide from the subsequent corner.

Shortly afterwards, Pemberton suffered a dislocated finger and substitute Robert Perks had to go in goal.

But Malvern were unable to make of the situation with Herbert shooting wide, after being put through by Turner, and Turner firing wide following Layton’s pass.

In the end, it was Khalsa who took the lead six minutes before half-time.

A quick free-kick near to the corner flag caught Malvern napping and Kinch fired home from inside the area.

However, the lead lasted only three minutes as Malvern earned a corner of their own and Turner’s cross was met by Herbert to head home.

On the stroke of half-time, another Turner corner was headed over the bar by centre-half Dene Whittal-Williams, who has returned to the club.

Khalsa, though, regained the lead in the 62nd minute. The visitors were given a free-kick on the right, the ball was crossed into the box, knocked on by a couple of strikers, and eventually fell to Bradley Lawley to head home.

Three minutes later, the hosts were almost level again but Reynolds’ shot was caught by keeper Perks.

Malvern could not find the equaliser and in the 85th minute Khalsa played the ball up the left and crossed for substitute Nicky Campbell to give Khalsa a flattering 3-1 victory.