DORCHESTER Town Youth FC chairman Dave Read hailed the club’s eighth annual six-a-side tournament as “very successful”.

A host of teams made the trip to the Sandringham Sports Centre, some shorter than others, to compete for the 12 titles on offer.

The hosts triumphed in the Under-13 Girls event and finished as runners-up in the Under-14 Girls’ competition while five other county town sides also reached their respective finals.

Weymouth Victoria overcame the challenge of Puddletown in the boys’ Under-8s, BS Grange got the better of Dorchester Raiders in the Under-9 event with Dorchester Stags also tasting defeat in the Under-10 final, going down to Surrey-based outfit Shepperton Saints.

The Raiders finished as runners-up in both the Under-11 and Under-12 competitions, losing to Moordown and Bridport respectively, while Branksome defeated Weymouth in the Under-13 showpiece.

However, there was joy for Weymouth in the Under-14 final as they saw off the challenge of Mangotsfield to be crowned champions.

In the girls’ sections, Heathlands beat Dorchester Magpies to land the Under-10 honours. Poole Town Wessex defeated Branksome in the Under-12 final and Weymouth pipped The Cherries to the Under-16 prize.

Dorchester’s success in the Under-13 event came against Boscombe Albion, but the roles were reversed in the Under-14 final as Albion triumphed over the hosts.

Reflecting on the tournament, Read said: “It went very well, it stayed nice and dry, so it was a very successful weekend. It was also good to see five different age groups playing in the girls’ competition.

“As a club we enjoyed some success but the main aim for us is to please our guests and make some money for the future expenditure of the club.”

Dorchester Town Youth are now expected to enjoy close links with Kingston Maurward College.

The college has just set up a new Football Academy for players aged 16 and over where they will be able to combine playing with studying for a full-time NVQ in Football Coaching or a BTEC in Football Studies.

Anybody interested in the academy should contact David Mellor on 215125 or email david.mellor@kmc.ac.uk