BALTI SPORTS 2

MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 2

BALTI Sports recovered from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw against Merley Cobham Sports in their Dorset Premier League clash at Weymouth College.

A brace from former Dorchester Town striker Matt Groves put Merley into the ascendancy, but Liam Taylor and Ethan Devaney, from the spot, struck to peg the visitors back.

Balti remain in eighth, seven points behind leaders Dorchester Sports having played one game more.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott was pleased with his side’s character in the midst of a winless run that extends back to October.

He said: “It was really encouraging. We got back to 2-2 and pushed for the win, unfortunately it didn’t come but we had a couple of chances towards the end.

“At 2-0 we could easily have folded but we rolled our sleeves up.”

Talking through the goals, Nott felt the result displayed Sports “fight”.

He said: “Their first goal was a stone-wall penalty and their second was five minutes after.

“Then Liam played a one-two down the left, ran into the box, didn’t give up and slotted it in the bottom corner. He’s been doing really well for us.

“The second was after half-time. It was a ball over the top of the defence. Ethan took a great touch and got pulled back. He took the penalty and the keeper went the right way but luckily he got enough power on it and it went in.

“It showed the fight was there and we’re determined to change this bad run of form and go into Christmas on a positive. It’s good to have that positive vibe back.

“It was a little bit frustrating that we didn’t get the win but Merley are a good side.”

Nott left the likes of Devaney and Carl McClements on the bench but he was buoyed by their reaction after coming on.

“I just wanted to shake it up. Hopefully it will set a marker out for the rest of the season that they’ve got to perform or risk being dropped.

“They all had good attitudes and made a difference, it was really pleasing. A couple of them didn’t have any arguments.

“Ethan especially changed the game. He’s got so much ability but he’s gone off the pace recently. He looked really sharp and hopefully that will kick Ethan on again for the rest of the season,” he said.

Balti: A Nott, Taylor, Austin, Roberts, Anderson (Pearce 70), Nichols, Dovell, Kenderdine, Zima (Devaney 50), Andrews, Houghton (McClements 60)