BALTI SPORTS 2

DORCHESTER SPORTS 2

HONOURS were shared in a thrilling Sports derby as Dorchester Sports came back from 2-0 down to secure a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Balti Sports.

Balti were playing their first game since Saturday, December 3 and nearly went behind after three minutes when Alex Godfrey guided Mo Hereka’s cross wide.

Balti went straight up the other end and scored when Matty Chambers capitalised on a rare fumble from away keeper Ash Green to make it 1-0.

In a typical derby between these sides, crunching tackles were the order of the day but the chances still rained in as Balti keeper Andy Nott made two crucial one-on-one saves from Hereka.

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Danny Andrews responded by firing just over, while the county town side saw goalbound efforts from Godfrey and Elliot Rossiter brilliantly blocked by the Balti defence.

Early in the second half, Chambers turned provider for Matty Roberts to head past Green for 2-0 on his return to the side following a hamstring injury.

Green prevented 3-0 when he denied Chambers and Jack Drummond, but the hosts began to tire as the match wore on, away sub Toby Read smashing the crossbar with a trademark 30-yard scorcher.

Godfrey then saw a huge chance wasted when he arrived five yards out only to get the ball stuck in his feet and allow Lloyd Beals, back from suspension, to make an important block.

With the Balti defence creaking, Hereka finally got his goal as a wicked deflection off Roberts deceived Nott for 2-1 in the 86th minute.

And the equaliser came in the 92nd minute as Rossiter played Godfrey through and the former Portland striker coolly rounded Nott to make it 2-2.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “To be honest, I’d have taken that at the start of the match anyway.

“Being 2-0 up and conceding so late it was a little disappointing. I’ve got no complaints for our lads.

“That was our second game in (seven) weeks. It’s understandable that at some point we’d feel the pitch, it was a heavy pitch, and the lads gave everything.

“I think Dorch have played consistently since the start of the year. Considering we’ve had no football, I was really proud of the effort.

“We only had 13 players as well, so if we had the chance to freshen it up in the dying stages I think the result could’ve been different.

“Credit to Dorch, they kept going and got the equaliser.

“It was a great derby played in the right way, it was nice to get something out of the game.”

Opposing manager Ashley James said: “We were desperate to win but being 2-0 down so late on we have to settle for a point.

“I’m happy we didn’t lose the game in the end but we’ll look back on it and think we should’ve won.

“The amount of chances we had, we should’ve put them away at crucial times and we didn’t do that.

“We were punished. The lads showed good character to come back and salvage another draw. I reckon if we had another five minutes we would definitely have won the game.

“Time ran out, both teams had to settle for a point and in the end it was a fair result.”

Meanwhile, Dorchester Sports’ home game against Westland tomorrow has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 7.

Balti: A Nott, Beals, Butcher, Roberts, Allison, Jarvis, McClements, Nichols (Harvey 80), Chambers, Andrews, Drummond. Sub not used: Spearing.

Dorch Sports: Green, J Steele, Bessant, Browne, O’Shaughnessy (Heal 60), Watts, Delves (Read 65), Sheehy (Taylor 60), Hereka, Rossiter, Godfrey. Subs not used: Samways, Jacques.