WAREHAM RANGERS 1

BALTI SPORTS 3

BALTI Sports came from behind to secure their third win in a row against Wareham Rangers in the Dorset Premier League, to move three points behind second-placed Merley Cobham Sports.

Goals from Carl McClements, Sammy Nichols and an own goal saw Balti recover from an early deficit to claim their third win in a row.

The match started poorly for Balti, when Rangers got down the left-hand side, and fired a cross in, which Andy Nott got down to save, only to see the ball ricochet off his elbow and into the net to hand Wareham the lead.

Balti were able to respond, and saw numerous corners and they were on top but could not find the breakthrough.

When it came however, they would not look back.

After 35 minutes, a cross from Liam Taylor saw Ricky Lane head against the bar, but on hand was McClements to tuck in the rebound.

Soon after, Balti took the lead for the first time, when Nichols dived in to head the ball into the net.

The third goal came on the stroke of half-time, when quick play down the left allowed Lane to fire across goal only for a Wareham defender to tap into their own net with Charlie Kenderdine lurking close by.

The second half was uneventful.

Balti had chances to extend their lead, yet time and time again saw their chances foiled by the Wareham defence.

Balti boss Marco Nott said: “It was a tough game, to be honest, it was a real tough battle and played on a terrible pitch.

“We went 1-0 down and then we got it back to 3-1 before half-time and just saw the game out in the second half.

“It certainly was not a pretty game to watch, it was really dull.”

Simon Proffitt and McClements earned particular praise from Nott, with the former having had to endure a tough start to the season, due to starting late due to his cricket commitments.

Nott said: “I thought those two were absolutely outstanding.

“Proffitt I am really, really pleased with him. He is one of that cannot get there at the start of the season due to his cricket commitments, so he always finds himself on the bench at the start of the season, and he is really good at waiting for his chance.

“He has had a run of eight to nine starts at centre-back now and he is really making that position his own now.”

Balti travel to Portland United Reserves on Saturday (2pm).

Balti: A Nott, R Walker, Anderson, Proffitt, Taylor, Reader (Preece 60), Kenderdine, McClements, S Walker, Nichols, Lane Subs not used: M Nott, Hicks

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