BALTI SPORTS 2

HOLT UNITED 3

BALTI Sports’ miserable start to the season continued with a 3-2 loss to Holt United in the Dorset Premier League Cup preliminary round at Weymouth College.

Balti have been plagued by injuries in the 2021/22 campaign and their latest defeat was a fifth in six games.

Holt already have one victory at Balti to their name – coming away with an identical scoreline in the league.

While the Bulls went 3-1 up in that game, they found a different obstacle to overcome in the shape of a 2-1 deficit.

Balti went 1-0 down when a free-kick was cleared easily by Holt to set up a counter-attack, allowing Sonny Wilkinson to dart through and finish a cross beyond home keeper Andy Nott.

Balti struggled to create chances in the first half but came flying out of the traps in the second to take the lead.

READ MORE: Balti Sports 0-6 Hamworthy Rec - match report

Liam O’Shaughnessy did well to play in Balti’s leading scorer this season – Danny Andrews.

Balti’s in-form striker neglected the chance to add to his four goals this season by squaring for Matt Chambers to fire home his maiden Balti goal.

Just a minute had elapsed before Balti made it 2-1, Sammy Nichols flicking a free-kick into the far corner.

However, Holt took advantage of a sin bin for Andrews when Nathan Saxby’s crisp 25-yard strike flew in off the underside of the bar for 2-2.

Saxby’s goal drained Balti’s confidence and the Bulls promptly went 3-2 up when Balti gave possession away, allowing Saxby to race in on goal and finish past Nott.

Balti boss Marco Nott told Echosport: “We look nervous on the ball, we’re going back instead of forward.

“It’s inviting unnecessary pressure on us and we’re getting punished big time. Teams aren’t missing many chances against us.

“We’re six games in now and we’re making the same mistakes, it’s stupidity really.

“We’ve got to buck our ideas up quick because already we find ourselves fourth from bottom and out of the cup.

“We always come out of the traps well but this is probably the worst start I’ve ever had at Balti. It’s difficult times.”

One positive for Nott was the display of youngster Chambers.

“He runs and runs and runs,” he said. “For a young lad he’s got a great attitude, he works hard on the right-hand side.

“He was a threat, he’s just got to work on his final ball a bit. He finished his goal nicely and he’s threatened to score a couple.

“To get his goal was really pleasing and hopefully he can kick on, he looks a good little find.”

Balti: A Nott, Curran S Walker, Anderson, O’Shaughnessy, L Taylor (Grace 80), Nichols, Andrews, Chambers, Rawlings, Devaney (R Zima 60).