BALTI HOUSE 4 CHICKERELL UNITED 3

BALTI House maintained their perfect start to the season as they defeated previously unbeaten Chickerell United, in a tasty encounter at Weymouth College.

The league leaders were slow out of the blocks in the opening 20 minutes and through Chickerell’s dominance, Josh Burton drifted in at the far post to knock the ball into the net for the Chickens’ opener.

Hosts Balti were struggling to find any rhythm and it looked like Chickerell were going to go two goals in front when they were awarded a penalty.

But home stopper Andy Nott came to the rescue with a smart stop to deny Josh Why.

That seemed to spark the home team into action and former Weymouth frontman Carl McClements grabbed the equaliser on the half hour mark, seizing on some indecision to calmly slot home.

Balti continued to press and were rewarded with a second goal before the break when Grant Chance put them in front with a clinical finish from just inside the area.

Jon Litherland then put his mark on the game after 60 minutes with a sublime chip, following a lovely passing move to put Balti 3-1 up.

But the Chickens wouldn’t lie down and Steve Welch reduced the deficit soon after with a bullet header which found the net.

With 20 minutes remaining, Chance then res-tored some daylight for the home side when he was presented with a one-on-one opportunity, and made no mistake in making it 4-2.

Dan Welch then put a penalty home for the Chickens to grab a consolation, but Balti managed to see out a highly entertaining game and make it four wins from four.

Reflecting on the result Balti boss Marco Nott said: “Chickerell was always going to be a tough game, but the lads produced a top- notch performance. I’d also like to credit the Chickens for a great game which was a good advert for local football.”

Chickens’ boss Steve Coward added: “The first 20 minutes was all us but after we missed the first penalty we conceded straight after.

“Heads went down and we lost our way and lost our shape a little bit, there were too many individual errors and we can’t afford to do that against sides like Balti.

“Take nothing away from them, they kept going for 90 minutes, they had their chances and finished them and got on top of us.”

Balti: Nott, Aston, Houghton, Anderson, Dean (Pearce), Lane (Devaney), Litherland, Kenderdine, Lock, McClements, Chance (Grattidge).

Chickens: Boore, Miles, D Welch, Newnham, Burton, Jarvis (Protheroe), Churchill, Taylor (Preece), S Welch, Rawlings, Why.