BALTI SPORTS 0

HOLT UNITED 0

BALTI Sports clung on to claim a valuable point at home against Holt United in the Dorset Premier League.

With numerous players playing for Dolphin in their loss to the John Gregory in the final of the Les Hallett Cup on Sunday, Balti were depleted with several personnel suffering the effects of a long, hard season.

Ryan Dovell, Ethan Devaney, Josh Burton and Charlie Kenderdine were all missing with Kenderdine injured.

Due to this, Balti played 4-5-1 and tried to sit behind the ball.

Balti manager Marco Nott admitted: “It is not the way we like to play really. We sort of just said get behind behind the ball and if we get the chance to counter attack then we will.

Sammy Nichols nearly won the game for Balti during the first half, with a superb chance.

There was a mix-up between the Holt goalkeeper, who came out, and the defender who headed it straight to Nichols who sliced it wide from 20 yards with the goal gaping after 25 minutes.

The only other chance in the half was for Holt as Balti keeper Nott tipped a free-kick over the bar.

Other than that, chances were few and far between in the match.

In the second half, Nott saved a near post effort after Holt had charged down the right-hand side.

Holt also got one-on-one with Nott but their lobbed effort went over the bar.

The Balti player-manager then had to punch away a corner that looked to be heading straight in.

A late attack from Holt saw Nott make a double save but took a boot on the shoulder, which disclocated the joint. He was replaced by his brother Andy Nott.

Marco Nott said: “We were really well disciplined in our jobs and it was a really good team performance. They had most of the play really but they just could not break us down. It was good to see us be able to get a result like that.

“The defence were outstanding, to get a clean sheet against Holt and on Saturday as well, our defence have not really got much praise this season but Phil Anderson and Matt Roberts were outstanding at centre back.

“It was just good to see us get another clean sheet and hopefully we can try and finish the season strongly.”

Balti travel to Sturminster Newton United (3pm) on Saturday.

Balti: M Nott (A Nott 88), Pearce, Anderson, Roberts, Proffitt, L Taylor (Andrews 80), McClements, Nickals, Walker, Preece (D Taylor 55), Lane

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