Keith Gilroy stretched the lead even further just prior to the break but the avalanche of goals expected in the second half never materialised with Morris’ second and an own goal from Gavin Hoyte putting the finishing touches on a comfortable night’s work for the table-toppers.

Home boss Alan Lewer made two enforced changes to his starting XI by replacing injured duo Cameron Mawer and Jordan Collins with the returning Kwesi Appiah and captain for the night James Coutts.

Hoyte was expected to miss out but intensive treatment on an ankle injury in the lead up to the game ensured he took his place at centre-back alongside Jordan Vincent, a product of the club’s under-18s. Jermaine Palmer and Jake Hyde formed a two-prong attack.

It took Burton just three minutes to break through the home defence with Harrad forcing his way into the box on the right only to be denied by a brave save by the onrushing Simon Evans.

Aaron Webster then headed over at the far post following a free-kick from the left before the hosts nearly got Palmer in the clear only for ex-Terra Tony James to make a fine interception.

Weymouth’s young side were certainly holding their own against the league’s elite but it was always going to be a question of whether they could sustain the work rate that was starving Albion of space.

Having lost three on the spin Burton were visibly edgy but in the 24th minute they finally steadied their nerves when Morris gambled on Darren Stride’s flick-on, outpaced Hoyte and slipped the ball under home keeper Simon Evans.

The Brewers now looked a lot more settled and moments later Gilroy cut in from the left and let fly from 25 yards only to see his effort rise just over Evans’ crossbar.

Weymouth’s passing was now beginning to go a little awry and on the half hour a challenge by Coutts ricocheted into the path of Stride who ran clean through but shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

A second goal was clearly on the cards and it arrived eight minutes before the break when Morris struck a post and Harrad followed up to side foot the ball into an open net following some lethargic defending.

Former Weymouth man John McGrath then tested Evans with a thunderous effort from 15 yards that the keeper did well to get his body behind. The gloveman also stood his ground superbly to deny Morris’ cheeky attempt at a lob, which came just a minute later.

Albion were now in full stride and on 44 minutes some more slack passing by the Terras ended with McGrath forcing the ball through to Gilroy who fired across Evans to make it 3-0.

The visitors continued their domination after the break with Morris having a fine drive saved and Gilroy striking a superb effort against the bar from 25 yards.

The fourth eventually found the net on 52 minutes when Harrad had a close range effort saved by Evans only for Morris to fire in the rebound after being afforded too much time in the six-yard box.

To add salt to the wounds Burton replaced Stride with their leading scorer Greg Pearson on 63 minutes and with Coutts being forced off for Weymouth through injury many expected more misery to be poured on to the hosts.

However, a combination of Burton easing off the gas and good character and fighting spirit by the Terras ensured there was only one more added to the score, which saw the unfortunate Hoyte put through his own net in the 86th minute after a fine cross from Pearson.