BALTI SPORTS 1

WESTLAND SPORTS 2

TEN-MAN Balti Sports ended their Jewson Dorset Premier League season by conceding an agonising 88th-minute winner in their 2-1 defeat to Westland Sports at Cranford Avenue.

Balti were hamstrung by a red card for Danny Andrews on the half hour, shown for alleged violent conduct after a tangle with a Westland centre-half.

Both teams played in their change strips after Westland’s away jersey clashed with Balti’s home shirt, both with navy colouring.

The match also kicked off ten minutes late on an unusual evening but Balti were well up for the fight even after losing Andrews.

Typifying their spirit was goalkeeper Andy Nott, who rushed off his line to deal with deliveries and through balls on countless occasions, keeping his side in it with a catalogue of saves.

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Westland did take the lead after half-time as Harrison Foster ran through and lifted a neat finish over Nott, hitting the post and cruelly trickling in.

Balti’s Sami Nichols and Matt Roberts also cleared Westland efforts off the line.

And the hosts’ defensive efforts were rewarded when Carl Mutch, fresh from a goal for Weymouth in Ashley Wells testimonial, scored a scrappy equaliser to give Balti extra reason to fight.

Balti were able to frustrate Westland by winning several free-kicks but, with light fading and the clock ticking down, Foster tapped home at the back post from a low cross-shot.

However, there was late drama as Balti were convinced Carl McClements’ stoppage-time volley inside the area thudded against a Westland hand, with the officials unmoved.

It meant Balti had to settle for a battling defeat and 16th place in the division, finishing above only bottom side Shaftesbury Reserves.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “The lads were outstanding throughout the whole 90 minutes.

“It’s typical Balti, really. We get there with a strong squad and we end up going down to ten men in the 30th minute.

“We’ve played about 60 minutes with ten men against an experienced Westland side.

“I thought we were outstanding and we were always a threat. We were looking dangerous on counter-attacks and rattled them a bit.

“For the lads, it could’ve been a typical end-of-season game, nothing on it at all, but they were superb and really did give everything until the final whistle.

“It was incredible to see the effort they put in for me and the team.”

Balti were also docked six points for conceding their away trip to Westland, finishing on 24 points from 32 matches.

Balti: A Nott, Nichols, Butcher, Roberts, Harvey, Jarvis, McClements, Halloran (Mutch 60), Chambers (Stone 75), Allison (Preece 70), Andrews. Sub not used: Spearing.