Khalsa veterans progress to the Olympic Stadium

Khalsa weathered early pressure from home side with goalkeeper Keith Distin saving two early short corners.

Dharminder Singh shot inches wide but it was against the run of play that Khalsa took the lead, captain Pervinder Singh firing home following their first short corner.

Both sides were now playing some superb attacking hockey, with Khalsa’s defence, marshalled by Pummy Hayer, Pervinder Singh, Bobby Bhogal and Rev Hayer, holding firm and Distin looking solid when called upon.

Reading hit the woodwork but Khalsa’s midfield had taken a strong grip on the game and helped them make it 2-0 in the 55th minute, Dharminder’s majestic through ball providing Surinder Singh Saini with an easy tap-in.

Daljinder Hayer wasted a chance to make it 3-0 and Khalsa were reduced to nine men after Dharminder and Surinder were yellow-carded.

Reading failed to take advantage of several short corners and put a penalty stroke wide before halving the deficit five minutes from time.

However, it was Khalsa who came closest to adding to the scoreline, with Daljinder putting the ball inches wideafter a breakaway.

Khalsa will now meet Stourport in the final at the Lea Valley Olympic Hockey Stadium on Sunday May 3.