DARREN Samways netted twice as Upwey & Broadwey carried on from where they left off last season at Hardings Lane.

The Weymouth outfit finished runners-up in the Dorset Senior League last season and the aim this time around is to go one better. And on the evidence of this first showing they will no doubt be hard to stop.

Ty Young and Jason Pearce also got on the scoresheet for the visitors, who thoroughly deserved the three points despite the Gills’ spirited display.

Upwey boss Steve Reynolds said: “Everyone played well without exception and I was very pleased with the result.

“We went there not knowing what we were going to come up against but once we settled and began knocking the ball around we started to get on top.

“We went into half-time 2-1 up but the deficit could have been a lot bigger to be honest. We then got a third straight after the break, which provided us with a bit of a cushion, and once we got the fourth it was game over.

“Their second came in added-time so there was no concerns about a late fight-back, and I thought there were some excellent performances, particularly from Damien McLucas again, who was the pick of the defenders.

“Pete Jarvis was also fantastic in midfield. He just never stopped running and must have covered every blade of grass on what is a big pitch.

“Young Ethan Devaney also got a run out as well and I think people will be hearing a lot about him this season. He has pace and bags of skill, and once he gets to know the lads a bit better and gets his confidence up, I have no doubts he will be a fantastic player for us.”

Samways opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he latched on to a fine through ball by Dan McDonald before chipping the onrushing keeper.

Town then levelled when a low throw-in to the near post crept into the net off the unfortunate Justin Crawford but it did not take Upwey long to make amends with Samways slotting home his second following some superb build- up play by Sean Zima and Jarvis.

Pearce added a third early in the second half before he then turned provider to set up Young for another simple finish to put the result beyond doubt.

Gillingham got another consolation late on after a fine save from Clinton Coltart but it did nothing to dampen Upwey’s spirits as they congratulated each other on a job well done at the final whistle.

Upwey: C Coltart, Coombs, Crawford, McLucas, Porteus, Zima, McDonald (Purnell 75), Jarvis, Pearce (Devaney 55), Young, Samways (B Coltart 70).