Baltic Vets FC 1 vs 3 HSBC

Baltic's losing streak continued with a disappointing defeat at HSBC Sports Ground on a damp Sunday morning. On a perfect pitch, expectations were high that Baltic's would be able to reverse their recent form against opposition who they have had much joy against in the previous two seasons. However, a sluggish start turned into a frustrating performance although they can feel hard done by their attacking football in the last half hour didn't provide more rewards.

HSBC controlled the early stages, the no. 10 in central midfield dictating the tempo and leaving Baltic chasing shadows. It was he who's 25 yarder curled delightfully into the top corner with little closing down from the visitors on the edge of their area. If his subsequent shooting wasn't so wayward, he could have had a hat trick of long range efforts before half time.

The home side doubled their lead midway through the first half with a bad error from stand in keeper Arron Watmore. An over hit punt upfield bounced over Arron and into the net.

Baltic rallied for the rest of the half without causing any attacking problems themselves.

The second half continued with the visitors having no luck as Paul West deflected a dangerous HSBC cross into his own net so put the game out of sight for the hosts.

However, the second wave of substitutions at 60 minutes injected some pace and urgency into Baltic and all of a sudden the game changed. Wave after wave of Baltic attacks should have rewarded the away side with goals but wayward finishing, poor decision making in the final third and some good saves by the HSBC keeper kept the lead intact. At the other end, Watmore made some very good saves from one-on-one situations, in one instance clawing the ball from the strikers feet. Throughout these exchanges Ricky Baxter was having a fight with the bald nutty right back who told him to go to the gym. Ricky didn't like that but i think it was good advice ; )

Baltic did score a consolation with the last kick of the match, Adrian Bradley firing calmly passed the keeper from the six yard box.

Onwards and upwards but Baltic need to look at what is going wrong