HOLT UNITED 7

BALTI SPORTS 0

BALTI Sports ran out of steam in the second half as Holt United rounded off the 2023/24 Dorset Premier League season with an emphatic 7-0 win at Petersham Lane.

The Bulls were leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to Corey Elwick’s opener and piled on six more goals in the second half.

Balti finish the season in 12th place, while Holt claim fourth having won the title in 2022/23.

Holt came into the game having beaten Blandford 3-2 in the Dorset Senior Trophy final four days prior and were clearly the sharper side early on.

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The Bulls won a penalty at 0-0 but Balti’s emergency goalkeeper signing Theo Sadeghi pulled off a fabulous low save to his right.

However, Holt’s pressure told as Elwick volleyed home a good finish at the back post for 1-0.

Balti passed up presentable chances for Stef Stavrianos and Phil Anderson before the break, as the Weymouth side finally got their passing game going.

However, an early goal for Holt in the second half saw the Balti wheels quickly come off.

Sam Bennett bagged a hat-trick, with George Lane, Kyle John-Clement and George Ashby also getting on the scoresheet as Balti wilted on a warm day.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “They won the county cup on Tuesday night, so they’ve been playing a lot of football.

“They’re a very good side and it was always going to be a tough ask. Where we haven’t played, we haven’t trained either.

“So, we were trying to scratch a team together. Fair play to the lads who worked tirelessly every game and got the league done.

“It was a tough defeat and one I wasn’t expecting much from. They were in good form and confident mood.

“They’re a good young footballing side and deserved to win.”

Nott added: “You could really tell the shape was so disjointed in the second half, it was a hard ask.

“They were clinical and probably could’ve scored more. It was disappointing to lose by seven, but it is what it is.”

Asked how he rated Balti’s season as a whole, Nott replied: “About a five or six out of 10.

“It’s difficult. We made so many changes this year, wholesale changes to the squad and management.

“We had really good numbers until the last few games, the interest dwindled badly.

“We won three or four of our last league games but with people going away it’s told poorly.

“So, it’s been a bit of the good and bad. With such a young bunch it will be a good learning curve, it’s just a shame it’s ended the way it’s ended.”

Balti: Sadeghi, Hansford, Anderson, Harding, Hawker, Harvey, Taylor, Stavrianos, Summers (Rawlings 60), Chambers, Grace. Sub not used: M Nott.