STURMINSTER NEWTON UNITED 0

BALTI SPORTS 1

BALTI Sports continued their assault on fourth place in the Dorset Premier League as a cheeky backheel from teenager Jack Drummond secured a 1-0 victory over Sturminster Newton United.

Drummond, promoted to the starting XI at the expense of striker Ricky Lane, repaid manager Marco Nott’s faith in him with a deft flick from Danny Andrews’ cross in the second half.

Victory handed Balti their fourth win in five games, keeping the pressure on Gillingham Town in fifth with the Gills lying six points adrift with two games in hand.

The Cherries has started the brighter of the two sides, belying their position of 16th, with goalkeeper Andy Nott forced into making a flying stop to tip a fierce effort over the bar.

Prior to Drummond’s goal, Andrews went closest to scoring with a lob that bounced narrowly wide.

Drummond then gave Sports the lead with his well-taken goal and Balti had to survive an injury-time header from the Cherries, who passed up the opportunity to take a point with a poor finish.

Speaking to Echosport, Nott lavished praise on match-winner Drummond.

He said: “That’s the good thing about him being a youngster, he’s free to do whatever he wants, he tried it and it came off.

“I’m really happy for him to get his goal because he’s been banging the goals in for the reserves.

“We thought we’d give him a chance with not much to play for and try and look at some of the young lads for next season.

“Josh Hickman and Liam O’Shaughnessy both looked really accomplished, faultless really.”

Nott also hailed Balti’s defence, who kept a fifth league clean sheet of the season.

He said: “Our defence was outstanding, we’re so solid at the moment with the back four and Andy in goal.

“Charlie Kenderdine was man of the match in the holding role in midfield. They just completely nullified them.

“They had one good chance at the end with a header they probably should’ve scored from. Our defence has been very good for a number of weeks, it’s quite a settled back four now and they’re getting their rewards.

“There weren’t a lot of chances in the game in general.

“It was quite tight on a really bobbly pitch, dry with not much grass on it. It was a difficult surface to play on.”

Balti: A Nott, R Walker, S Walker, Anderson, L Taylor (Hickman 70), Smith (Lane 55), Kenderdine, Zima, Dovell, Drummond (O’Shaughnessy 70), Andrews. Subs not used: M Nott, Burton

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