MERLEY Cobham Sports manager Ollie Cherrett is hoping to have unearthed another striking gem in Shaun Steer.

Cherrett, who recently lost hot-shot Luke Stone to Southern League Wimborne Town, saw Steer score twice in their 2-1 win at Wareham Rangers.

Plucked from Bournemouth League outfit Alderholt, where he had plundered 29 goals in 15 games, Steer has netted three times in two starts for the Dorset Premier League leaders.

His first-half double put Merley Cobham in the driving seat at Purbeck Sports Centre before dual registered Will Spetch halved the arrears for the hosts after the break.

Cherrett said: “It was a difficult trip to Wareham and not playing for 14 days was never going to be easy. But I was very impressed with the attitude and quality we showed.

“The first half was arguably the best we had played for a very long time. We looked solid in defence, while creating chance after chance.

“We took a deserved 2-0 lead and Shaun has looked good since his step up from Bournemouth Division One. The second half was a bit stop-start but we controlled the game very well.

“Credit to Wareham, they kept battling away and a little bit of quality from Will Spetch made the scoreline look a lot closer than it was.

“In my opinion, we are facing our hardest away game of the season at Portland on Saturday. But the boys are relishing the challenge at the moment and these are the games you can’t wait for.”

Merley Cobham: Perry, Gage, Mills, Pritchard, Barber, Wilkins, Barnett (Atkinson, 78), Wrixton (Elysee, 70), Steer (Turner, 75), Cannie, Goward.