‘SETTLED’ Balti Sports are in a better place says manager Marco Nott ahead of their Dorset Premier League season opener against Sturminster Newton on Saturday.

Balti finished eighth in the league last season, despite going 10 games without a win in the league.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Portland United, Nott said:

“I think settled is the word really, we are in a lot better place this year.

“We had a poor season last year but at the back end of last season we got it back together again and started doing what we want.

“We took that momentum through so far into pre-season and hopefully we can replicate it when we get going into the league matches.”

Nott conceded that the side are looking to get back to league football, admitting the friendlies can become tiresome.

Nott said: “Friendlies are good but they drag on a little bit, we are just dying to play league football now instead of all of these friendlies.”

Despite a slow start, the Balti boss is pleased with how pre-season has gone.

Nott, speaking after their 1-1 draw with Portland, in which Ricky Lane scored, said: “Pre-season has gone well really, it was a bit of a slow start with the World Cup and everything and the heat.

“It has been tough at the start but as the games have gone on I think we have played four games now and each one of those games we have got better through fitness and performance.

“So it is coming good now really. It is pleasing, we definitely needed that performance (against Portland) just to show what we are capable of really when it comes to grinding out results.”

Balti now have a reserve team up and running and have already started benefitting from it with a couple of young lads from it in and among the first team and fighting for places.

When asked how optimistic he is feeling ahead of the season Nott expressed real hope and calm ahead of Balti’s opening match.

Nott said: “We definitely are positive. For the first time in many seasons I am sort of going into the season knowing pretty much my team and my formation and being quite confident of that really.”