The Under-18s returned to winning ways with an impressive 2-0 win at Cardiff City on Saturday morning.

Saints' youngsters followed up their respectable 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace last weekend with a fine performance that blew away the hosts as another team predominantly made up of first year scholars starred on the day.

Dave Puckett in fact made just one change from same side that started at Palace with Garyn Preen replacing the injured Jordace Holder-Spooner and he was rewarded with a complete display from start to finish.

A high tempo encounter was further testament to the fitness of the team on a warm day in Wales, which led to the visitors taking a first half lead just before the break through Sam Hoskins.

Lloyd Foot's mesmerising run forward created the opportunity evading three or four challenge in the process before he picked out Corby Moore who slotted the ball across for top scorer Hoskins to tap home.

A dominant second half from Saints saw them continue to create chances with midfielders Lloyd Isgrove and Andy Robinson going close, but it was a defender that killed Cardiff off five minutes from time as skipper Ryan Tafazolli struck home a forward's effort inside the box with his left foot to seal the win.

Puckett revealed that the hosts praised his side for putting in the best away performance they had seen all season, which the Under-18s coach was happy to back up.

"The boys were magnificent," he said. "The work ethic was high again as we pressed them from the first whistle to the last and we created them a lot of problems.

"The younger lads grabbed their opportunity with both hands and deservedly got their reward of a win."

Saints Under-18s: Dovey, Nicholas, Foot, Tafazolli, B. Martin, Isgrove, Robinson, Ward-Prowse, Moore, Preen, Hoskins.