Town's under-18 side were defeated 5-2 at Newcastle United last Saturday in their latest FA Premier Academy League game of the season.

Newcastle striker Nile Ranger was the star of the show, netting a hat-trick, but Town striker Danny Barlow (pictured) made his own impact, scoring an impressive brace.

The home side opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute, with Michael McCrudden racing onto a long ball over the top of the Town defence before slotting home, and Ranger doubled their advantage soon after following an impressive run.

Barlow netted his first of the game to reduce the arrears in the 10^th minute. The ball was worked out of the Town defence and was eventually played inside the full-back to winger Luke Durham, whose cross was turned home by the striker.

Ranger restored Newcastle's two goal lead with a 22^nd minute tap-in before a Connor Newton volley in the 44^th minute making it 4-1, but Barlow scored again on the hour mark for Town - capitalizing on an error from a United centre-back before rounding the opposition goalkeeper and tapping home.

The dangerous Ranger made it 5-2 in the 72^nd minute, finishing a cross from James Tavernier, but Town had reason to be proud of their performance against a Newcastle side featuring three overage players.

The Academy picked up a couple of injuries during the game - midfielder Lewis Nightingale had to come off with a bang to the head and full-back Liam Ridehalgh picked up a thigh injury. Young striker James Spencer was sent for a scan on his injured knee earlier this week, with the results still pending.

Town's under-18 side vs. Newcastle United:

Damian Eastham, Dave Pickering, Liam Ridehalgh (Stephen Brook 60), Spencer Harris (Lewis Collinson 85), Leigh Franks, Jack Hunt, Lewis Nightingale (Ryan Watson 55), Danny Barlow, Luke Durham, Luke Williams, Aidan Chippendale

Unused Subs: Chris Pert, Adam Bower