BALTI HOUSE 2 PIDDLETRENTHIDE SPARTANS 4

A DOMINANT first-half display saw Piddletrenthide Spartans topple high-flying Balti House at Cranford Avenue.

The Spartans took the game to Balti from the off and their decision to attack paid dividends.

Adam Lloyd and Marcus Simpson had success early on before the latter set up Neil Kellaway to sweep home after 10 minutes.

And it was 2-0 soon after when Lloyd, whose pace proved too much for Doug Beveridge to handle, cut the ball back for Simpson to score.

Balti relied on scrappy service to Ethan Devaney, Carl McClements and Grant Chance in the hope of getting back into the game.

But they lacked the edge to breach the solid defensive pairing of Carl Lewis and Aaron Williams, while Craig Kellaway and Jack Thompson worked tirelessly in front of them to preserve the Spartans’ lead.

The visitors’ third arrived on 25 minutes when Neil Kell-away curled an effort towards goal and a defection sent the ball swirling past Andy Nott.

It was all over with 32 minutes on the clock as Lloyd was hauled down on the edge of the box when clean through and, after Marco Nott was booked, Simpson struck a fantastic free-kick to make it 4-0.

Balti came out firing in the second half and Devaney, McClements, Chance and Shane Lock were suddenly 20 yards further up the pitch.

Ricky Lane replaced Lock and he got the ball into the box on a couple of occasions.

The hosts finally pulled a goal back when a hashed clearance from Kieron Howes left Devaney an open net to fire into.

At the other end, Lloyd and Simpson missed one-on-one opportunities, before Chance bundled a corner home to give Balti a glimmer of hope.

Balti peppered the Spartans’ goal with shots from Beveridge, Chance and Phil Anderson, while only last-ditch challenges on Jamie Samways and Lloyd prevented breakaway goals for the visitors.

“The front three were unplayable for 45 minutes while the lads across the back were solid throughout,” said Spartans’ boss Howes.

“But we have to mention Craig and Thommo who set the tempo for everything we did with their work rate.

“They were fantastic, while Kev Seal and young Paul Hill had a barrage to deal with in the second half and they stepped up to that too.”

Balti: A Nott, Beveridge, Pearce, M Nott (Gratteridge), Anderson, Kenderdine, Walker (Litherland), Lock (Lane), McClements, Chance, Devaney.

Spartans: Howes, Seal, Hill, Williams, Lewis, C Kellaway, Thompson (Washington), N Kellaway, Lloyd, Simpson, Samways.

Firestop Southwest man of the match: Craig Kellaway