MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 6

BALTI SPORTS 1

BALTI Sports endured a harrowing day at Merley Cobham Sports as an alleged racial slur overshadowed their 6-1 Dorset Premier League loss.

Losing 6-1 and with just a minute of normal time remaining, Balti went down to 10 men with Merley alleging a racist comment to have been made.

Balti had defended well for the opening 25 minutes until Nathan Saxby stole in past Liam Taylor to tap home at the back post.

From there, Balti capitulated and the visitors notched their second from a corner.

At half-time, free-scoring Merley continued in the same manner as Saxby twice got past Taylor to complete a hat-trick.

Balti then switched off with a cross to the back post and last season’s league top scorer Asa Phillips leapt to head home.

Balti enjoyed a rare purple patch for 10 minutes and grabbed a consolation as Che Curran’s flicked header found the net from a Ricky Lane cross.

Visiting keeper Andy Nott then allowed a shot to trickle through his legs, preceding Balti’s late red card, to complete the Weymouth-based side’s miserable afternoon.

Speaking to Echosport, Balti boss Marco Nott said: “It was a terrible display in the second half, you could see it coming.

“I’ve been with this group five or six years and we’ve got that performance in us. Once or twice a season we’ll go away to a big team and get hammered.

“I told them the mentality is so weak when we play good teams, we just fall away and give up.

“It’s unacceptable and I was fuming after the game, to be honest.

“We were absolutely rubbish. The last 60 minutes was typical of us when we go to places like that. I was absolutely fuming – I said a few words (to the players), maybe too much.

“We were so poor, but the first 25 minutes we did really well, defended well and looked a threat going forward – there was no problem at all.

“But Liam Taylor fell asleep at the back post and Saxby hit it in. From there on it was pretty dire.”

On the alleged racist incident, Nott continued: “Me as a manager I’m completely embarrassed and disappointed by it.

“We’re not that sort of club at all. I’m pretty ashamed if that’s happened. We’ll deal with it accordingly.”

Balti visit Blandford United in Dorset Premier League action on Saturday (2pm).

Balti: A Nott, Curran (Dean 70), S Walker, Anderson, Taylor (Moore 55), McClements, Kenderdine, Devaney, Zima, Andrews, Lane. Sub not used: M Nott.

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