NEWPORT County AFC gave Tottenham Hotspur a huge scare in the FA Youth Cup before going down 6-2.

The young Exiles put in a strong performance against the Premier League side’s hot prospects in London.

They led 2-0 in the first half after goals from Lewys Twamley and Sonny Lewis, who both got a taste of senior football in the EFL Trophy this season.

However, Spurs came firing back and Dane Scarlett, who made his first-team debut for Jose Mourinho in Spurs' Europa League clash against Ludogrets in November, turned the tie on its head with a hat-trick.

Roshaun Mathurin added a fourth for the home side with 13 minutes left on the clock, and there was still time for Scarlett to add two more to his tally as Spurs booked their place in the fourth round of the competition.

The experience will have served the County prospects well and the timing of the game was perfect; the FA have since suspended the tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Academy coach Declan Flanagan named a XI featuring Aneurin Livermore, Callum Ryan-Phillips, Evan Ovendale, Harrison Bright, Joe Woodiwiss, Ryan Hillier, Twamley and Lewis who have featured for Michael Flynn's first team squad this season.

The home side, expectedly, dominated the early proceedings and enjoyed two opportunities in quick succession but Woodiwiss blocked well from Scarlett and then Ovendale saved well from the striker.

Despite having their backs against the wall, the Exiles soaked up the pressure from the hosts and carved out their first chance of the afternoon to open the scoring.

After getting the better of his marker, Twamley squeezed an effort past Thimothee Lo-Tutala at his near post to give Flanagan's side a shock lead.

The goal came against the run of play but County had their second within four minutes of the restart after Hillier and Lewis combined before the midfielder rifled beyond Lo-Tutala to put County two goals to the good.

But Spurs hit back within four minutes remaining of the first half when Scarlett nodded beyond Ovendale from close range to halve the deficit.

Hillier had the opportunity to restore County's two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time, only to see his effort kept out by Spurs goalkeeper Lo-Tutala, who atoned for his earlier error.

The home side began the second period in the same way they started the first as Jeremy Kyezu went close to drawing Matt Taylor's side level.

County were fortunate to escape on that occasion, but there was little Ovendale could do to prevent Scarlett from drawing the hosts level when he pounced on a loose ball and fired home.

The striker completed his hat-trick with 18 minutes left on the clock after prodding Mathurin's cross beyond Ovendale with a clever finish.

Mathurin then got among the goals himself when he fired into the top corner before Spurs were awarded a penalty after Callum Ryan-Phillips brought down Scarlett inside the area.

The striker stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards to ensure there would be no way back for County.

Mathurin turned provider again in stoppage time as his delivery picked out the run of Scarlett, who smashed the cross into the bottom corner to round off a dramatic cup tie.

County: Evan Ovendale, Charlie Bullock, Luis Bates, Joe Woodiwiss, Callum Ryan-Phillips, Aneurin Livermore, Zach Maher, Harrison Bright, Sonny Lewis, Lewys Twamley, Ryan Hillier (captain).

Substitutes: Cirotto, Karadogan, Bowen, Morgan, Graham, Kabongo, Evans.