BALTI SPORTS 2

WESTLAND SPORTS 4

BALTI Sports fell victim to the clinical finishing of Westland Sports as the Yeovil-based side did the Dorset Premier League double over their Weymouth counterparts.

Westland have consequently climbed above Balti into 11th in the standings, with Marco Nott’s men suffering a fifth straight defeat in among a gruesome run of fixtures.

Balti did take the lead when Matty Chambers converted a penalty, given when centre-back Jake Hawker was brought down in the box.

Neither side found chances easy to come by until Westland grabbed a fortuitous goal on the cusp of half-time, Niall Woollard’s shot hitting the base of the post and trickling over the line.

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Westland then proceeded to take every chance they had, storming into a 4-1 lead.

Within a minute of the second half beginning, Josh John followed in on a scuffed shot across goal to bag at the back post for 2-1.

Balti were all at sea and Joe Aikhuele notched a third before the bizarre fourth when Balti stopped, expecting an offside flag that never came, allowing Woollard to lob stand-in keeper Nott.

Balti’s response was spirited but too late all the same, as Adam Batchelor scored a consolation.

Oscar Preece and Batchelor had half-chances at 4-2 down but Westland’s superior finishing proved the difference at Cranford Avenue.

Nott told Echosport: “It’s the story of our last five games, really. We got ourselves in front and literally on the stroke of half-time they scored in off the post. It just felt typical of our luck.

“They were ruthless, to be honest. I didn’t have a lot of shots to save. It was a tough day.”

Balti’s challenging run of games continues on Saturday (2pm) as they welcome second-placed Wimborne Town Reserves to Cranford.

Nott added: “They’re a superb young side. We played them first game of the season and they knocked the ball around.

“They’re probably the best footballing team that we’ve come up against so far. It’s good to see how well they move the ball.

“It doesn’t seem to faze them what conditions they play in, they seem to still play the same way, from the back.

“It’s effective, they’re well drilled and organised. It’s going to be a tough game. We need to pick ourselves up from Saturday because it was a bit flat.”

Balti are without Chambers (hamstring), Carl McClements and Harry Rupp (dead leg) but goalkeeper Harrison Wallis returns.

Elsewhere, Balti have been awarded England Football accredited status.

Balti: M Nott, Rupp (Preece 20), Hawker, Butcher, Batchelor, Summers, McClements, Nichols, Gear (Hansford 60), Stavrianos (Starr 70), Chambers (Stone 70).