Newport County Under-18s fell to a narrow 3-2 home defeat against Oxford United in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday afternoon.
The young Exiles raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Orphee Bony and Declan Rowsell before the visitors put together a comeback, including a last minute penalty, to clinch all three points from the hands of a determined County side.
In the absence of a number of his regular players, manager Luke Hussey named a series of the Academy's Under-16 players in his squad to take on a strong Oxford United side.
A strong start for County saw the young Exiles take the lead inside the first 10 minutes. A high press forced Oxford into an error playing out from the back, and the ball fell the way of Bony who made no mistake from inside the box.
County were forced into defensive action just a minute later when Tomos Lloyd perfectly executed a last-man challenge to keep out a dangerous Oxford attack.
Luke Hussey's men would be instantly rewarded for their defensive work when Declan Rowsell found room in the box to turn and slam home a second just one minute later.
The visitors would respond straight from the kick off, Oxford United winger Leo Snowden was presented with space to finish into the top corner to half the deficit
A valiant defensive display saw the Exiles maintain their lead approaching the break, with young goalkeeper Cassius Tanhai putting together an assured performance having been subbed on early to replace the injured Bailey Hopkins.
County were unlucky not to take a two-goal lead going into half-time. Attacker Myles McKenzie was first to react to a deflection in the box and headed past the Oxford stopper.
County celebrations were however cut short as the linesman had adjudged McKenzie to be offside prior to his finish.
Half-Time
Tanhai was first to be called into action in the second half as he produced a fine stop to deny Oxford striker Jack Lee one-on-one just two minutes into the re-start.
Oxford found an equaliser on 51 minutes when winger Leo Snowden weaved his way to the byeline before finishing into the roof of the net on the angle for his second goal of the game.
County put bodies on the line to keep the game alive in the 64th minute with Adam Davison's last ditch challenge from inside the six-yard box being the pick of the bunch.
Jac Norris came agonisingly close to putting County back in front on 66 minutes when his powerful reverse shot crashed off the post after a touch from Oxford stopper Ajae Patel.
Oxford would clinch the game at the death when a Rowsell high boot in the box was penalised by the referee. Lee made no mistake from 12 yards to ensure that the points would head back to Oxfordshire.
Full-Time
Newport County under-18s return to action next Saturday, when they travel to Portsmouth in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup.
Newport County: Hopkins (Tanhai 6'), Davison, Babah (Williams 59'), Pugh, Sanca ©, Lloyd, Alexander-Walker, Rowsell, Bony, Norris, McKenzie (Barrett 59').
Unused Subs: Osbourne, Egan.
Oxford United: Patel, Mole, Blackmore, Bangurah (Cramond 58'), Lacey, Doyle (Appiah 70'), Griffiths, Bradney, Lee, Holton, Snowden.
Unused Subs: Jackson, Appiah, Griffiths.