BALTI Sports’ manager Marco Nott remains “fairly positive” despite a trying couple of results in the Dorset Premier League this week.

Nott’s side are down one place to fifth in the standings after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth Sports on Saturday followed by a 3-0 defeat at Shaftesbury Town Reserves on Tuesday.

Against Bournemouth, Balti found themselves 1-0 down in the 11th minute when Madison Wilkin fired into the top corner from playmaker Gabriel Spennato’s fine pass.

On a fiercely hot day, drinks were called for and Balti scored within two minutes of the resumption as Ethan Devaney netted before Balti had a second effort ruled out for offside.

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It stayed 1-1 until the break but the visitors needed only two minutes of the second half to retake the lead when Wilkin finished off a square pass from Matt Ellis.

Balti piled pressure on in the latter stages and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Louis Gear lashed home a knock down for 2-2.

However, the visitors almost snatched the points in the dying moments when Jai Crowther’s turn and shot smacked against the post.

Balti then travelled to Cockrams where they were defeated 3-0, Curtis Lane grabbing a double and Adam Hall also netting.

Two of the goals came late on after Balti’s Derek Wall sent a header over and was also denied by a goalline clearance.

Wall was perhaps too honest for his own good at 1-0 as he charged through and had a simple finish after rounding the keeper, only to trip under a last-ditch tackle and see an open goal go begging.

Nott told Echosport: “I can’t fault the effort, the lads have been outstanding.

“I’m still fairly positive. The game on Saturday was just a good game, we could’ve won it and equally they could’ve, so it was probably a fair result. We’ll take a point.

“I think we’re way ahead of where we thought we would be with the side we’ve put together. They’re a cracking bunch of lads and work so hard for each other.”

Balti next host fellow high-fliers Hamworthy United Reserves on Saturday (3pm).

Balti v Shaftesbury: Wallis, F Jarvis, Butcher, Anderson (Preece 75), Gear, Biles (Samways 75), Nichols, James (Allison 70), Stavrianos (Batchelor 80), Chambers (Summers 80), Wall.