BALTI SPORTS 5

MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 1

BALTI manager Marco Nott insisted his side were back to their best after thumping Merley Cobham Sports 5-1 at Weymouth College.

The high-flying Weymouth outfit look to be set to seal second spot in the division this term, after securing their 22nd league victory of the campaign.

And, having gone through a difficult run of form in recent months which has seen them slip from top spot, boss Nott was glad to see his side play with such energy.

“We were sort of back to our best from the start of the season,” he told Echosport.

“That’s the first time I have seen us play like that in 2017. We like it when the sun is out, we play on a nice big pitch and we can play our football then.

“It was a really good team performance and our energy was there.”

After coping with some early pressure, Balti took the lead in the opening period when Sean Zima’s corner was whipped in and came off a Cobham defender for an own goal.

And two minutes later, striker Ricky Lane showed his class to smash home a volley from close range to put Nott’s men two up.

But Merley responded and it was former Magpie Matt Groves who found the net to make it five goals in two games for the visitors just before half-time.

Following the break, Balti turned on the style.

A Zima free-kick was glanced into the net by Phil Anderson to make it 3-1 and Lane then added to his tally with a 25-yard strike which found the net via a deflection.

Four then became five for the hosts as they started to run riot. Jason Pearce scored his first of the campaign, sparking all the Balti players to celebrate with the full-back.

Balti: A Nott, Taylor, Pearce, Anderson, Burton, Lock, Kenderdine, Devaney, McClements (Roberts), Zima (Proffitt), Lane. Sub not used: M Nott