Under-18 South & West Counties Championship final
DORSET 2
BERKS & BUCKS 1
HITMAN Nathan Saxby scored twice as Dorset Under-18s clinched the South & West Counties Championship for the first time in 26 years.
The southerners had topped Division A ahead of rivals Devon and Cornwall, which booked them a tie against the Section B winners Berks & Bucks at Hamworthy United’s County Ground.
Dorset made a quick start, taking the lead on 12 minutes when Dan Spencer’s long throw found Saxby, who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Having lost Portland United’s Dan Austin prior to kick-off, the hosts suffered a further blow when Weymouth asset Eddy Mitchell pulled a hamstring and was unable to continue.
And 10 minutes before the interval, Berks & Bucks drew level when Jordan Cousineau intercepted a long throw from Dorset keeper Jason Seabright and laid on a pass for Daniel Nti to slot the ball home.
However, parity was short-lived as just two minutes later, good work from debutant Nathan Scott enabled Saxby to score his second of the match and 10th of the competition.
Berks & Bucks pressed hard for an equaliser after the interval but the Dorset defence, in which Seabright starred, repelled any mounting attack.
At the opposite end, the Terras’ Mitch Conning, Saxby and substitute Jack Satterly caused the visitors plenty of problems on the counter-attack, the latter duo both hitting the woodwork in the dying minutes.
The final whistle sparked unconfined joy for Dorset, whose skipper, Spencer, then collected the trophy from South & West Counties committee member Alan Rosekilly.
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