BALTI SPORTS 4

SHAFTESBURY TOWN RES 1

BALTI Sports fired in four as they confidently saw off Shaftesbury Town Reserves in the Dorset Premier League.

A brace from Sammy Nichols alongside goals from Danny Andrews and Stef Stavrianos saw Balti come from a goal down to record their 15th game unbeaten in a row.

It was a tough start for Balti, as Shaftesbury started well and dominated the match.

The Rockies got their breakthrough after 10 minutes, when a cross from the right-hand side was tapped home from six yards to put Balti behind.

However, Balti responded by putting Nichols into the number 10 role and a minute after this tactical switch, the home side had their equaliser.

Nichols took possession 25 yards out and slammed the ball in off the underside of the bar for Balti.

Crucially, Balti would strike again before the end of the half when Carl McClements passed the ball through to Andrews who ran one-on-one with the Shaftesbury goalkeeper and slotted the ball in after 40 minutes.

After the break, Balti had the wind behind them, and, after 10 minutes, Nichols cut inside and from the edge of the box struck a shot in off the post to further extend Balti’s lead.

After 65 minutes, the game was killed off further.

Stavrianos, 16, scored a superb solo goal when he nutmegged a defender before running through and slotting past the goalkeeper.

Balti goalkeeper Andy Nott had to save a point-blank header late on as the Rockies tried to reduce the deficit.

However, Balti maintained their lead which lifts them up to third in the table.

Balti boss Marco Nott said: “It was fantastic really, I was a bit worried about the game really because we were missing a few key players for the match and I thought after Wednesday night it might have taken a bit too much out of us because we looked a bit flat, a bit complacent in the warm-up.

“We did really well really, we got through the match and did what we needed to do. We were pretty clinical going forward and scored some good goals.

“The crucial moment was taking the lead just before half-time to make it 2-1.

“We were going against quite a strong wind in the first half, so to come in at half-time winning 2-1 was really pleasing and we just kicked on from there.”

Balti: A Nott, Smith, Burton, Roberts, O’Shaughnessy (Preece 80), Stavrianos, McClements, Kenderdine, Dean (Proffitt 60), Nichols, Andrews. Subs not used: Dovell, M Nott