BLANDFORD UNITED RES 1 BALTI HOUSE 2

BALTI House kept their Dorset Senior League title dreams well alive as they came from behind to secure three points at Blandford United Reserves.

The league leaders were left to thank Shane Lock for goals either side of the interval, in what was his side's 16th win in 22 outings this term.

The victory means Balti, who do not have a game this weekend, are seven points clear in the title race, although they have played three games more than second-placed Chickerell United.

Marco Nott’s men got off to a sluggish start and the Royals nipped in for the opener through Dan Snow within the opening five minutes at Blandford Rec.

But they got themselves back in it before the break when Lock lobbed the goalkeeper from inside the area to make it 1-1.

Buoyed by his leveller, Lock was at it again on the hour mark, tapping home what proved to be the winner after running on to a perfectly-weighted through ball from John Litherland.

The result delighted the Balti boss, who reserved special praise for Lock’s performance.

He told Echosport: “It was probably Shane’s best game of the season for us.

“He was outstanding on the day. He ran at their full-backs time and time again.

“Our two centre-backs Tom Grattidge and Phil Anderson were also brilliant, and Lewis Ironside, who is relatively new for us, played well too.

“We are seven points clear and have two games to go in our season. Psychologically, I think it was a big win for us. It wasn’t a great game but we were the better footballing side.”

Despite occupying top spot at this late stage of the campaign, Nott believes there is no pressure on his charges in their final two outings.

“We just have to wait on results but there is not too much pressure on us really,” he added.

“We just have to go game by game and do what we can. All the lads are very positive about it. If you had told me that we would be where we are now at the start of the season I would have bitten your hand off.

“We knew in pre-season we had put a decent side together but to be top is unbelievable really.”

Balti’s final two games of the campaign are away at South Cheriton United and Gillingham Town Reserves.

Two wins would see the league leaders finish on 56 points.

Balti: A Nott, Aston (R Walker), Anderson, Grattidge, Pearce, Litherland, Kenderdine (Beveridge), Ironside, Lock, McClements, Chance (Dean)