BALTI SPORTS 5

BLANDFORD UNITED 4

BALTI Sports manager Marco Nott admitted the overriding feeling following his side’s dramatic 5-4 win over Blandford United at Weymouth College was “like we had lost”.

A late Danny Andrews goal saved Balti’s blushes having thrice squandered the lead as Blandford targeted Sports’ back-line with a succession of long throw-ins.

Ricky Lane, Andrews, Rory Zima and Phil Anderson had earlier found the net for Balti in a match flush with goals.

But Nott felt that despite winning, the Dorset Premier League encounter had been a “frustrating game”.

He told Echosport: “It was a bit strange after the game, it was like we lost – how on earth did we get into that situation?

“It was weird really, a game of two halves. We were 2-0 at half-time and completely cruising, there was no danger at all. They got a goal from a through ball but we went 3-1 up straight after and we thought it was game over.

“They got a throw in and launched it and their striker flicked it in. They got back into it at 3-3 and we went 4-3 up before another long throw-in made it 4-4 and Danny Andrews got the winner!

“It was such a frustrating game because we played really well and scored some really good goals.”

With Balti’s trouble from throw-ins, Nott did not hold back in his assessment of Blandford’s tactics, believing his side to be the “only team that wanted to play football”.

He said: “Once Andy made one mistake and didn’t claim it the pressure was on. They threw the centre back up and we just didn’t deal with it. It was really concerning.

“There was only one team that wanted to play football. It worked for them but it was so frustrating. It was crazy, but to come back and win that game was very pleasing.”

Balti opened up a 2-0 half-time lead when Andrews buried a square ball from Lane 12 yards out, before Lane slammed home a superb 30-yard volley from a ball that bounced over the top of the Blandford defence.

After seeing their lead reduced to 2-1, Zima replied almost immediately by scooping the ball over the Blandford goalkeeper’s head.

Blandford’s tactic of long throws drew them level at 3-3 but a marvellous goal from Anderson, having controlled with his thigh and volleyed into the top corner, restored Sports’ lead.

The visitors equalised after another long throw, but with four minutes remaining Andrews found space in the box and fired home to secure all three points for the league leaders.

Balti: A Nott, Batchelor, Anderson, Lock, Taylor, Preece, Devaney, Kenderdine, Zima (Dovell 85), Andrews, Lane. Sub not used: M Nott