BALTI SPORTS 2

BLANDFORD UNITED 3

BALTI Sports began their Jewson Dorset Premier League campaign with a 3-2 loss to Blandford United at Weymouth College.

While a minority of Balti’s squad has been struck down with Covid-19, Sports still managed to take the lead against the Royals.

Talented young winger Stef Stavrianos came up with the goods, rounding goalkeeper Ryan Park before slotting home in the 10th minute.

With Balti dominating the opening 20 minutes, the Royals drew level out of nothing through a Brad Pike thunderbolt which crashed in off the post from 30 yards.

Blandford rode their luck with Balti seeing a shot cleared off the line, but Sam Watson then tapped home an inviting low cross by Archie McCarthy for a 2-1 half-time lead.

Balti’s best spell of the match came after the break but a pause for drinks halted their momentum, Park saving well from Sean Zima’s free-kick.

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However, Blandford grabbed a crucial third when McCarthy swept home past Andy Nott from close range.

Even a 90th-minute Danny Andrews penalty, given for a foul on Ethan Devaney, could not help rescue a point for the hosts.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “It was as expected, really, quite an even match.

“I feel like a few of our lads are not really up to speed after suffering quite badly from Covid. We’re just not quite at it yet.

“It was a strange game, we played really well and got the lead. The first 20 minutes we were really good and then they scored a goal out of nothing.”

Balti visit Bridport Reserves tonight and, apart from the Covid impact, Nott is having to contend with broken bones for key players.

He said: “Carl McClements and Jack Drummond are both injured from a friendly, so we’ve suffered from that.

“Squad numbers went down from the Monday to Friday.

“Jack broke his wrist and Carl broke, slash dislocated, his big toe. It was uncomfortable. He had a bone sticking out of his big toe. It wasn’t very pleasant to see.

“I think he was in A&E until four in the morning, so it was a bit of a nightmare.”

Ethan Devaney and Rory Zima are also out for the Bees game, but Sanchez Baker and Lloyd Beals return.

Balti: A Nott, Curran, Walker, Anderson, S Zima (Taylor 65), Dovell, Devaney, Rawlings (O’Shaughnessy 65), R Zima, Stavrianos, Andrews. Sub not used: M Nott