SINGH Sabha have failed to win back the UK Asian Football Championship title after a disappointing 3-1 defeat in the final against London Apsa on Sunday.

The tournament in Glasgow, Scotland promised success for the 2016 winners but a poor show in the final saw Sabha lose to the East London-based side.

In the 20th anniversary of the competition, eight clubs were invited from all over the UK and from different levels of the football pyramid depending on how they have performed in competition throughout the year.

Singh Sabha Slough were aiming to win their second UK Asian Championship title after victory in 2016. The team failed to return to defend their title last season.

The competition is set up in a very simple format with eight teams that are drawn into two groups of four.

The group matches were played on Friday and Saturday, with the winners in each group playing in the final at Celtic Park in front of a crowd of 200 people on Sunday.

Singh Sabha went into the final confident the team was full of goals after scoring 24 in the three games leading up to the match. Pritpal Raju was leading the way with eight in the competition.

Despite their confidence, Sabha were always wary of their opponents, who cam through on top of a tough group and were looking to avenge the 2016 final defeat when Sabha ran out 6-1 winners.

Sabha started the game brilliantly and within the first minute Charlie Samuels broke clear of the defence and found Umar Riaz on the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked on the goal line.

Chances were being created at will when a delightful chip over the keeper from Samuels was cleared off the line by a recovering defender.

The game turned on its head midway through the first half as the Apsa striker found himself free 20-yards out and fired into the top corner, giving keeper Hassan Hussain no chance.

Sabha were shocked but kept on attacking and Samuels was denied with another block on the goal line.

Singh Sabha kept on pushing forward in the second half but were always open for a counter-attack and Apsa soon doubled their lead.

Poor play from Sabha saw them give the ball away and their opponents broke to find their striker, who turned smartly in the box and fired past Hussain.

Singh Sabha pulled a goal back with 15 minutes to go as a delightful 30-yard cross-field pass from Samuel found Soor, who controlled the ball before slotting brilliantly passed the Apsa keeper.

Apsa finally killed the game in stoppage time when their striker took advantage of a missing defence to complete his hat-trick.

It was a disappointing result for Singh Sabha but full credit to London Apsa who held their own, defended brilliantly and scored at the right times to and fully deserve the win.

It was one of those days for Singh Sabha Slough but it was another amazing experience playing at Celtic Park.

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