Striker Jack Marriott netted a hat-trick as Town's U18s beat Cardiff 4-2 at a snowy Playford Road this morning.
It was Marriott’s fourth hat-trick of the season and third against Welsh opposition, the two U18s games against Swansea earlier in the season having both yielded triples, along with the home victory over Barnet at U21 level in September.
Russell Osman's boys, playing their final home game of the season, went in front via Marriott in the 28th minute.
The striker, who is one of the five second-year academy scholars to have been offered a one-year professional deal, made it 2-0 six minutes later.
Schoolboy Matthew Clarke, who netted the winner for the U21s against Millwall last week, hit the bar with a header soon afterwards, then created Town's third, a Bluebirds defender turning his cross past his own keeper in the 43rd minute.
Two minutes later, Marriott completed his hat-trick from Kyle Hammond's cross from the right.
The Welsh side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot just before the break after a foul by George Fowler, then added another during the second half.
Town's U21s are in action away against their Cardiff counterparts on Monday afternoon (KO 1pm).
U18s: Crowe, Hammond (Thompson 69), Fowler, Sowunmi, Robinson, Berkane, Willbye, Leddy, Clarke (Bishop 69), Lawrence (Timlin 69), Marriott. Unused: Marsden, Ramadan.