BALTI HOUSE 2 PORTLAND UNITED RES 1

BALTI HOUSE produced a workmanlike performance despite being stretched to the bare bones to extend their unbeaten league record against a gritty Portland United Reserves side.

With a number of injuries and players unavailable, Balti created several scoring opportunities in the opening period that were either denied by the woodwork or strong goalkeeping.

The Blues themselves caused a few problems to the home team from set-pieces and, on 35 minutes, Balti’s injury curse struck once again when Jason Pearce was forced off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by debutant Ross Walker, a recent acquisition from Chickerell United.

Not long after, Balti were forced once more to reshuffle their pack when Phil Anderson went off with a back injury as the game remained goalless during the opening period.

Balti continued to probe at the Portland defence in the second period in their efforts to break the deadlock.

Their endeavour was duly rewarded on the hour when an exquisite through ball by player-manager Marco Nott put in Ethan Devaney, who, after taking the ball in his stride, he applied a clinical finish into the corner of the net.

The islanders pushed on in search of an equaliser and caused a few anxious moments in the Balti box, mainly through the evergreen Gerard Deplanque.

But the hosts managed to weather the storm and grabbed their second goal on 80 minutes.

Shane Lock managed to lose his marker on the left flank and pulled a perfect ball across the box for Olly Stanton to slide the ball home.

With the final whistle approaching, Portland went in search of a leveller and they managed to reduce the arrears when Chris Reader met a cross from the right and volleyed the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

But the home side held out and secured their seventh league win of the season from eight games.

Manager Nott said: “It was your typical local derby, not a great spectacle in terms of viewing with both teams battling hard for the win to earn the bragging rights.

“We came through in the end and it’s another three points so I can't ask for any more than that.”

Balti: A Nott, Aston, Pearce (Walker), Houghton, M Nott, Anderson (Stanton), Kenderdine, Skinner (Beveridge), Lock, Devaney, Dean Man of the match: Charlie Kenderdine