DORSET 2 WILTSHIRE 1

DORSET’S under-16s overcame their resilient Wiltshire counterparts at the County Ground to gain their first win in this season’s South & West Counties Championship, writes Richard Payne.

Goals in either half were enough to see off a spirited Wiltshire side, who were looking for their first points of this season’s competition.

Dorset started off with an attacking formation signalling their intentions early and were nearly rewarded when the first real chance fell to Tom Bearwish, who headed wide from a corner that was misjudged by the opposition keeper.

Further efforts from Charlie Ryan, Lucas Dennett and Matthew West were also thwarted or wide of the mark as the home team started to assert themselves.

But a resolute Wiltshire defence stood firm and their first meaningful breakaway nearly resulted in a tap-in for George Hiccins, as a ball from the right wing was played across the box but the onrushing striker’s sliding effort was inches away from making contact.

As soon as Wiltshire created their first chance two more came along in quick succession. A fantastic curling free-kick from the visitors’ left-back, Charlie Quarral, hit the bar.

However, it was the Dorset side who made their dominance count with a brilliant strike, as Bearwish picked the ball up in the centre of the park and drove through two tackles before hitting a 25-yard drive into the top corner of the visitors’ goal to give the County Ground outfit a 1-0 lead at half-time.

A revitalised Wiltshire came out on the front foot in the second half after a tactical reshuffle and had an early chance as Seth Wain beat two players down the right and crossed for his strike partner, Hiccins, but he was denied by Cameron Harvey in the Dorset goal.

It wasn’t long until the away side had their equaliser, though, as a corner from the left was swung in to the back post where an unmarked Rendel Lewis had the easiest of tap-ins to level things up.

Just as Wiltshire thought they had a platform to build on for the rest of the match, Dorset then reestablished their lead with a slick move from right to left involving Ryan and Thomas Garbutt, who combined to play in Billy Mitchell.

The Weymouth youth player jinked from right to left and expertly opened up his body to steer the ball into the far corner with his right foot to seal the game.