DORSET PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY 2026
BALTI SPORTS 2 VERWOOD TOWN 3

A break in the severe weather gave an opportunity for us to visit Balti Sports in Weymouth.

Several absences to the squad meant a few positional changes but we managed a full bench for this first fixture of 2026.

The pitch wasn’t in too good a condition and contributed to a scrappy opening.

Balti were first to adapt and applied pressure culminating in an angled shot going wide.

Our retaliation was instant, earning a corner. An Ionut half volley was deflected for a. second attempt. Lane got on the end of this one but a packed defence cleared the ball up field.

Balti’s ariel blast was handled well by Harvey and Pope with Andrews always alert for the stray.

17 minutes gone and Andrews was in action palming away a low volley from the edge of the box. The ball fell to a Balti hopeful who was in collision attempting to turn, and from an astonishing acrobatic fall earned a penalty. Andrews pulled off a brilliant save palming the ball away from danger.

Balti continued having a slight advantage in possession. We rallied but on 26 minutes an inswinging corner looped into a crowded Verwood box and was deflected past Andrews.. 0-1.

Three minutes later our counter was rewarded by a Barton hooked shot clearing defenders and leaving the keeper stranded. 1-1.

A remaining 16 minutes had both teams looking a bit lethargic but on the whistle the score board reflected a fair score of 1-1.

Half Time. 1-1

The break put a bit of energy back into the squad and we almost nicked a second with a good Derick run and cross hastily cleared from the 6 yard box.

The pitch surface had suffered and wasn’t conducive to playing on the floor. Air under the ball became the norm.

Balti’s pressure increased. Sustained attacks almost yielded but defensively we were sound.

25 gone and our counter down the right forced a corner. Pope rose high above his marker and Luke Littler would have been proud of Popes accuracy in planting a header directly on Harvey’s chest for Harvey to cleverly flex a muscle and flick the ball past the keeper. 2-1.

Balti, stung by the score line increased attacking levels and we were forced to defend in numbers. 36 gone though and Balti earned a leveller from a scramble in the box finishing with the ball finding its way into the bottom corner. 2-2.

The game swung from end to end. Craciun suffered several heavy tackles and needing attention. Extra time was flagged up …. 7 minutes.

Balti pushed on. We snuffed out an attack down the middle and a Derick ball wide landed for Barton to skip past his marker and chip an advancing keeper. A classic goal with only 4 minutes left on the clock.

Squeaky bum time but the whistle went on a hard earned 3 points.

Result. 3-2