BALTI boss Marco Nott gave praise to midfielder Sammy Nichols after he raised his game since stepping into midfield from right-back.

The move has clearly paid off, with Balti winning all three games since Nichols made the move to the centre of the park.

Nott said: “He (Nichols) has played midfield for us in the last three games, he has given us the energy that we have been looking for. He has been outstanding.

“He is doing a lot of work unnoticed and he has really made a difference, he is playing really well at the moment.”

Nichols first came into the midfield for the 2-0 win over Dorchester Sports in the preliminary round of the Dorset Premier League Cup.

Wins against Holt United and Merley Cobham Sports have followed, with Nichols opening the scoring in the latter match.

Nott said it came about due to people being unavailable and due to the addition of right-back Ross Walker.

Nott said: “We have got a right-back in with Ross Walker now, so he was back there originally but through unavailabilities we have had we stuck him in.

“He is predominantly a midfielder anyway but he has played against Dorchester Holt and Merley Cobham now and he has been outstanding, to be honest.”

Nott said that he has played his way into being difficult to take out.

Nott said: “He is sort of difficult to budge out of that middle slot now because he is making a big difference in terms of our play really.

“It is credit to him because he is doing a great job and as it has happened we have won all three games that he has been in there. He has been a very important player.”