BALTI Sports’ boss Marco Nott admitted his annoyance at his side’s current spate of unavailabilities, branding the situation “ridiculous” going into Sports’ Dorset Premier League match at seventh-placed Mere Town today (3pm).

Last week, Sports had a near full-strength squad to choose from but were thwarted by a postponement for their match at Gillingham Town, owing to a waterlogged pitch.

This week, the Balti boss has been delivered a severe blow with the news that at least 10 first-team players will not travel to face the Moonrakers.

Nott told Echosport: “I think it’s our longest journey.

“Needless to say we’re without a number of players which is frustrating.

“We’ll go with what we’ve got and hopefully get some points on the board with the cup game next week. We’re probably without 10 or 12 players.”

In seven days, Balti will travel to Westland Sports for their Dorset League Cup semi-final and Nott expects a vastly improved turnout with the carrot of a final place on offer to the victors.

He said: “This week is a real humdinger, I’m very disappointed.

“We’ve got a chance to bring in a couple of young lads and get something out of their performances.

“We had our full rota of players available (for Gillingham) but I think next week we’ll have a lot more availabilities.”

On the challenge of facing Mere, Nott was appreciative of the physicality that the Moonrakers possess.

He said: “They’re a good side. They like to put a lot of pressure on you and work really hard. It’s always a difficult test going up to Mere.”

Ricky Lane and Ethan Devaney are just two of the big first-team names to miss the trip to Mere, while the club’s young players, such as Jack Taylor, will get another chance to impress.

Balti Sports currently sit tenth of 17 sides in the standings on 27 points, some 15 points behind leaders Hamworthy Recreation having played four games more.

Should Sports win and results go their way, Nott’s side could rise to eighth with a further 13 league games to play this season.

n Bridport Reserves, who saw their midweek Dorset Premier League fixture with Dorchester Sports postponed, again due to a waterlogged St Mary’s Field pitch, have no match this weekend.

Shaun Annetts’ team currently sit in 14th place, but could be overtaken by Blandford United should the north Dorset side triumph at Wareham Rangers today.

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