Portland United duo Mitch Conning and Dan Austin have been snapped up on youth forms by Npower League One outfit Yeovil Town.

The pair signed after taking part in extended trials at Huish Park and will play for the Glovers’ under-18s tomorrow when they take on their counterparts from Queens Park Rangers.

For the Blues it is another testament to their youth development programme, which continues to be fronted by boss Stuart Heath, who is overjoyed for the two players.

He said: “Both Mitch and Dan have been training with Yeovil this summer and they have now signed youth forms there, which means they will play for the club’s under-18s on Saturday mornings throughout the season.

“It is disappointing for us in the sense that we will lose them for long parts of the campaign but it is also great to see them making their first steps at a professional club.

“Their aim now will be to try and win a professional contract and the fact that we have played a small part in their development is fantastic.”

Both Conning and Austin have dual registration, which means they will continue to train and play for Portland when they are not on duty in Somerset.

Heath added: “Both of them are very ambitious and last season the experience they gained in the Dorset Premier League really helped them to progress.

“Mitch played up front for us and at first was very slight but he is now a bit stronger and by the end of the campaign he was knocking in goals regularly and doing really well.

“Dan went on a similar journey at left-back. He is a fantastic athlete and just like Mitch, he works hard on his game and is determined to succeed.

“The fact both of them have progressed so well shows what can be done when a bit of faith is shown in young players.

“We have made a commitment at Portland to keep giving youngsters a chance to develop, as we know it will also profit the club in the future, as well as others.”