Town's reserves comfortably beat top-of-the-table Oxford United 3-0 at Didcot's nPower Loop Meadow Stadium on Wednesday night. A brace from Ronan Murray and a strike from Bermudian international Reggie Lambe secured all three points for Chris Kiwomya's men.
Town started well and were nearly ahead inside the first minute when Reggie Lambe capitalised on a slip by Oxford captain Jimmy Sangare but the 20-year-old hit the side-netting with his effort when he probably should have scored.
Luke Hyam saw the game's first yellow card after a strong challenge on Josh Payne, the Oxford midfielder's night coming to a premature end as he had to be withdrawn.
On 25, Town took the lead when Ronan Murray latched onto a through ball from Lambe and finished coolly past Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood.
Six minutes later and Town's advantage had been doubled when Tom Eastman hit a quick freekick into the path of Murray, who cut in from the left and curled a superb right-foot shot around Eastwood.
Lambe did get his name on the scoresheet four minutes before the interval when he cut in from the right and hit an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
The hosts had a chance to pull a goal back almost immediately when Alfie Potter worked a good opportunity for himself, but his weak shot was straight at Cody Cropper in the Town goal.
Argentinian Luca Civelli came close to increasing Town's advantage on the stroke of half-time but his long-range effort was deflected just over the bar for a corner.
Oxford started the second half brightly and Aaron Woodley hit a shot just wide before Civelli hit a powerful half-volley just over the bar, prior to Town withdrawing the lively Murray - possibly with an eye on the weekend with Tamás Priskin playing for Hungary in Dubai against Azerbaijan.
With 20 minutes remaining and both sides continuing to create chances, Town made what appeared to be a pre-planned change with Andy Drury, signed from Luton last week, replaced by youngster Cormac Burke. Watching first team manager Paul Jewell and coach Sean McCarthy left just before the change was made.
The home side came close to reducing the arrears with a couple of close efforts, most notably from Laurence Gaughan and Woodley but Town centre-back Tom Eastman also came close with a strong drive from a free-kick; the ball flying just past the post.
Overall, Town put in a good performance with a number of fringe players hoping to impress the watching Jewell. Ronan Murray showed why he is rated as the best natural finisher at the club with two well-taken goals, and Tommy Smith won everything in the air on a night where Andy Drury had a quiet first appearance in a Town shirt, although his set-piece deliveries caused problems for the Oxford defence throughout.
Second string boss Chris Kiwomya was delighted with the victory: "It was one of the best performances I have seen since I have been working with the reserves.
"We scored some good goals and defended well as a unit in the second half when they put a lot of high balls in, with Tommy Smith winning a lot in the air. All the lads played their part in what was a good team display."
Reserves: Cropper, Ainsley, Whight, Hyam, Smith, Eastman, Drury (Burke 72), Clark, Murray (Cawley 55), Lambe and Civelli. Unused: Bennett and Meekings.
Report by James Ager and Terry Roberts