Newcastle United Under-23s' play-off hopes were ended as Southampton's second string ran riot at St James' Park.
The majority of the damage was done by exciting Saints whizz-kid Tyler Dibling, just 16 and ending his Easter Holidays, who blasted in a first half hat-trick on the big stage. United did manage a response but left themselves with too much to do.
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The visitors edged ahead with the first serious attack of the game with just six minutes on the clock when Tyler Dibling hammered a left-footed shot off the post and in at the Gallowgate End. It was a poor goal to concede from a United point of view with Dibling allowed to pick the ball up from the halfway line and waltz though pretty much unchallenged.
Four minutes later, Lucas De Bolle tried his luck but steered a shot wide of the target. Even at that stage this game felt like it had a real end of season feel to it.
With 16 minutes gone Isaac Westendorf got free down the left but his shot was blocked by Harry Lewis who made his first save of the night for Southampton. But it was the Saints who got another chance on 20 minutes when Ramello Mitchell took a touch in the box before blazing wide of the target.
That was a let-off for the Magpies but they did have their best chance of the opening stages when Josh Scott's run from left-back resulted in a fine cross for Tom Allan but Lewis was again equal to it. It would prove to be a moment to rue for Newcastle.
For Southampton went 2-0 up with Dibling once again given some time and space and despatching a powerful shot past Mark Gillespie to put the Hampshire side in full control. Given United's sluggishness for Dibling's first it was alarming to see him score a similar effort so soon.
Incredibly, he was allowed to do it again and collect his hat-trick on 42 minutes. With another wide-open space to run into, Dibling cracked his third of the night past Gillespie to put Southampton even further ahead.
And that's how it stayed until the interval with Newcastle serving up a worrying first half at St James' Park. Southampton remained on the front-foot at the start of the second period.
Substitute Ryan Finnigan was next to have a go but steered a long range effort wide of Gillespie's left-hand upright. Allan sent a shot into the side netting five minutes later as Newcastle chased the game. But the night got even worse with 25 minutes to go.
Jimmy Jay-Morgan burst down the right before calmly clipping goal number four past the goalkeeper to compound the evening for United's youngsters. Southampton were reduced to 10 men after Ramello Mitchell was sent off for his part in a scuffle with 17 minutes left.
Sub Stephenson pulled one back for Newcastle with 11 minutes left to set up a tense finish. It was made even more frantic when Westendorf stooped low to head home and reduce arrears to make it 4-2 against the short-handed Saints.
Midfielder De Bolle could have made it really interesting when presented with a chance at the back post but blazed over in the closing stages. Westendorf saw another header gathered by the goalkeeper in stoppage time.
Saints held on to win 4-2 and in doing so ended Newcastle's promotion hopes from Premier League 2 for another year.
UNITED: Gillespie, Oliver, Scott, Stanton, Brockwell, Savage, Allan (Carlyon 85), De Bolle, Westendorf, Turner-Cooke, Adam Wilson (Stephenson 68).
Attendance: 638
Referee: David Richardson
