BALTI SPORTS 0

HOLT UNITED 1

BALTI Sports pushed defending Dorset Premier League champions Holt United all the way but eventually succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Cranford Avenue.

Balti have now lost twice to the Bulls by only one goal this season, following a 2-1 defeat at Petersham Lane.

Holt needed only 15 minutes to open the scoring when Ali Garard latched onto a diagonal ball, controlling well and slotting beyond Harrison Wallis in the Balti goal.

Balti should have equalised when Jack Summers burst through one-on-one, only to smack his effort against the post.

READ MORE: Balti Sports goalkeeper Andy Nott retires

Sports kept the move alive and, from the recycled ball in, Stef Stavrianos missed a presentable headed chance.

But Balti needed Wallis to make two crucial saves, keeping Holt within a goal’s reach, in the second half.

Sensing a chance for a point, Balti peppered the Holt box with crosses late on but could not find a way through as the Bulls’ defence held firm.

Holt looked dangerous on the counter but were unable to find a killer final pass, although the visitors did enough for the three points.

Balti boss Marco Nott said: “It’s kind of the story of our season so far. Stur Newton, Westland, Holt, we’re running the big teams close which gives us optimism for next season.

“Where it’s a young, new bunch of lads you can see where they do come up short a little bit with the clinical edge and lack of experience.

“It was another pretty good performance. The pitch wasn’t great but it was a good game.”

He added: “It was a spirited display. The attitude was there. We’re a match for these teams, it’s just that one victory where we get on the right end of one of these tight games.”

Balti next travel to unbeaten leaders Blandford United on Saturday (2pm).

“It doesn’t get much tougher than that,” Nott said.

“They actually get quite a good crowd down there as well. The lads have had quite a brutal run. We’ve been there a few times recently and had a bit of a hiding.

“So, it would be great if we can overturn one of these results and try and get a win ourselves.

“Obviously, it’s going to be extremely difficult against Blandford who are in good form this season.”

Balti are without Fin Jarvis, Callum Allison, Marcus Biles and Harry Rupp but Adam Batchelor and Sol Roche return.

Balti: Wallis, Hawker, L James, Butcher, Allison, Nichols, McClements, Gear (Stone 80), Stavrianos, Summers (Preece 60), Chambers.