The Town Under-18s ended their Youth Alliance campaign in style as Joe Deeney’s side won 8-1 at Newport County on Tuesday.

Newport started the stronger and took the lead in the 13th minute after the Hatters failed to clear their lines from a set piece.

Falling behind sparked the Town into a response and within five minutes they were level when Harry Fox squared for Tate Xavier-Jones to tap home from close range.

On 27 minutes the Hatters took the lead when Fox and Charlie Trustram combined for Christian Chigozie to head home at the back post.

As the Town continued to press, it was 3-1 10 minutes later when Xavier-Jones converted from the penalty spot after Benny Benagr was brought down in the box.

There was still time before the break for a fourth when Benagr slipped Xavier-Jones through on goal and the striker rounded the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick.

The Hatters continued where they left off after the interval when Xavier-Jones was credited with his fourth goal after the Newport keeper’s attempted clearance rebounded off the striker and bounced into the net.

On 76 minutes it was six when good work between Benagr and Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso saw Dylan Stitt score from two yards out.

Hincapie-Alfonso then got in on the act when his fine low finish made it 7-1 with seven minutes left.

And the scoring was complete two minutes from time when a deft header from Hincapie-Alfonso sent Benagr away and, after rounding the keeper, he slotted home the Town’s eighth of the afternoon.

The result leaves the Hatters top of the Youth Alliance but Oxford have three games in hand in the race for the title.

Next up for the Under-18s is the trip to Swansea in the final of the PDL Cup on 4th May.

Town: Thomas, Harvey, Fox, Stitt, Chigozie, Kwame Anson, Asamoah, Trustram, Xavier-Jones, Shepherd, Benagr.

Subs: Roberts-Edema, Booth, Ioannides, Hincapie-Alfonso, Bircham.