BEN Morris netted twice as Dorset registered a 3-0 win over Berks & Bucks in the Pro-Direct South & West Counties Under-16 Championship at Thatcham.

Berks & Bucks started the brighter of the two teams, retaining possession in midfield without causing the visiting defence too many problems.

However, it was Dorset that created the first real scoring opportunity in the 15th minute when Morris unleashed a shot which Liam Findley in the Berks & Bucks goal did well to parry for a corner.

Dorset gradually found their rhythm and came more and more into the game as the first half progressed and were perhaps unfortunate not to be leading at half-time with Morris putting a shot wide and James Cox seeing his cross-cum-shot going over the crossbar.

Two minutes after the break, Morris put Dorset ahead with a glorious curled right-foot shot in off the far post to put the visitors deservedly one up.

Three minutes later, Farren Bradley unleashed a fantastic dipping shot from almost 30 yards, only to see Dorset’s debutant goalkeeper Sam Thompson produce a stunning backward dive to tip the ball over the bar to prevent an equaliser.

For a short while after going ahead, Dorset conceded a few free-kicks just outside their penalty area from which only last-ditch defending and an offside flag prevented the equaliser for the hosts.

Once again though the Dorset team rallied and in the 64th minute, Davey Lucas fed Morris who mesmerised the Berks & Bucks defence before slotting the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

Dorset now played some of their best football of the match, the third Dorset goal coming from a quick counter attack after the hosts had an effort rebound off of the Dorset crossbar, this time Morris was the provider putting Joel Hewitt through who made no mistake in making the score 3-0.

Dorset’s victory put them up to second in the league. Their next game is on Sunday, March 5 when they travel to Laverstock and Ford to play Wiltshire.

Dorset: James Cox (Bridport Youth), Niall Foley (Dorchester Town Youth), Riley Greenwood-Neate (Weymouth Cougars), Jacob Hawker (Weymouth Cougars), Franklyn Herrington (Wimborne Town), Joel Hewitt (Weymouth FC Youth), Daniel Hunt (Rossgarth Youth), Ben Knight (Wimborne Town), Davey Lucas (Rossgarth Youth), Ben Morris (Dorchester Town Youth), Taylor Sawyer (Poole Town Youth), Ally Sutton (Dorchester Town), Sam Thompson (Wimborne Town), Nial Turner Weymouth Cougars).