The youngsters tasted defeat as Bristol City ran out 4-2 winners at Staplewood on Saturday morning.

A bright start from the hosts was rewarded inside the opening quarter of an hour's play when they took the lead through Daryl McLean. The winger came in from the right hand side and produced a neat, clever finish into the far corner for the first goal of the game.

However, the Robins soon levelled the score with a shot from 25 yards on the back of a blocked free-kick which flew into the back of the net, and the match was turned on its head before the interval through a low strike into the corner across 'keeper Jack Dovey's goal.

Within a minute of the re-start, City extended their lead with a first time finish from a low cross on the left, and less than ten minutes later it was 4-1 as some lapse defending let in the visitors through the middle to effectively end the game.

There was room for a response from Saints when Andy Robinson was brought down inside the area with ten minutes remaining, and Sam Hoskins dispatched the spot kick to reduce the deficit.

The manner of the defeat, particularly on the back of some more solid performances of late was a frustration for Under-18s coach Dave Puckett.

"The disappointing aspect of the game was that we didn't keep possession of the ball well," he said. "We need to work harder both individually and collectively because there seemed to be a lack of desire and that isn't acceptable.

"The standard needs to improve because we're in it together and inconsistency is costing us."

Saints Under-18s: Dovey, B. Martin (Nicholas 80), Racine, Tafazolli, Argent, McLean, Robinson, McNish (Foot 75), Holder-Spooner (Keegan 70), Preen, Hoskins.