AROUND 130 teams from all over the country descended on the Marsh last weekend for the second annual Weymouth FC Youth Tournament and the event proved a huge success.

Sides from as far away as Solihull, Willenhall, Birmingham, Devon, Gosport and Portsmouth made the journey to the seaside resort but the local teams from Weymouth and the rest of Dorset more than matched them in what proved to be a great exhibition of junior football.

Due to new guidelines the boys’ Under-7 and 8 section was non-competition with no results being formulated but the action on the pitch was fast and furious with all the players receiving medals for their efforts.

In the Under-9s’ final a dramatic penalty shootout saw Chickerell triumph over Dorchester while in the Under-10s’ showpiece there was victory for Darren Corbridge’s Weymouth FC Youth, who overcame Ian Green’s Weymouth Terras.

United Services Portsmouth then beat Gosport for the Under-11 crown before Chickerell picked up their second piece of silverware by beating much-fancied Weymouth FC Youth in the Under-12s’ section.

The Under-13s’ title went the way of visiting team Brixington as they defeated Poole Bay Youth while the Under-14s’ category saw Willenhall come out on top against a very impressive Branksome side.

Weymouth FC Youth then grabbed more honours by beating Wychall Wanderers in a sudden-death penalty shootout in the Under-15s’ section before Dorchester Strikers beat fellow county town rivals Dorchester Raiders to claim the Under-16s’ trophy.

There were also a large number of entries in the girls’ section, which once again proved just how much the sport is developing.

Heathlands beat Weymouth FC Youth to capture the Under-10s’ title before Weymouth Terras triumphed in a penalty shootout to overcome Corfe Castle in the Under-11s.

Poole Town Wessex then beat Mudeford Phoenix to grab the Under-12s’ crown while Dorchester Town claimed Under-14 success by triumphing over Broadstone.

The final game saw Weymouth FC Youth take on Solihull in the Under-16s in a fitting finale that saw Georgia Rogers, daughter of Weymouth FC Youth chairman Mark Rogers, net a sparkling hat-trick for the hosts in a 3-0 victory.

Event organiser Tim Davis said: “To sum up, approximately 1,000 children and several thousand spectators were attracted to Weymouth over the Bank Holiday weekend to enjoy the football, and the planning and preparation for next season’s event will soon begin.”

* Pick up today's Echo for more pictures from the tournament.