BALTI SPORTS 5 HAMWORTHY UNITED RESERVES 0

BALTI Sports’ slick transition into the Dorset Premier League continued as a clinical second-half display saw them romp past Hamworthy United Reserves at Cranford Avenue.

In what was the club’s first home fixture of the campaign, manager Marco Nott once again saw his side rise to the task in their new division, inflicting a third straight loss for the young Hammers in the process.

The teams went in goalless at the break after what was a frustrating opening period for the hosts.

Ethan Devaney, who also struck the woodwork during the game, had the chance to put Balti ahead from the penalty spot but failed to convert.

“We weren’t really at the races in the first half an hour and they passed the ball around quite nicely, but we grew into the game,” Nott told Echosport.

“We were dominant in the second half. We brought John Litherland on and he went into the centre of midfield, Sammy Nichols went out on the right and we took them apart.”

Ricky Lane set the ball rolling for Balti when he slotted home from the spot after 55 minutes, then a Josh Burton free-kick found the net just past the hour.

Burton added his second either side of substitute Litherland’s two strikes to give Sports their second consecutive 5-0 victory.

Reflecting on the display, Nott added: “We were saying we just needed to be patient. Once we got the first it settled us down and we played some great football.

"We defended really well too. I was in goal and I hardly had a shot to save.”

Nott, whose side visit Weymouth Reserves on Thursday (7.45pm), is still having to pinch himself at the club’s rise to the upper echelons of the division.

He said: “It’s a bit crazy what’s going on. There is a really good feeling around the club.

“We had a programme done and my mum was in the refreshments box selling teas and coffees.

“Even all the injured players that we have at the moment, which there are a lot of, are all coming down to watch and helping out. There is a really good vibe about us.

“We have become a lot more tighter as a group really.”

Balti are currently in second place in the division with two victories and 10 goals from two games.

Westland Sports currently lead the pack with maximum points from their opening three outings.

Balti: M Nott, Pearce, Anderson, Burton, Walker, Batchelor (Grattidge), Lock, May (Litherland), Nichols, Devaney, Lane (Andrews).