Notts County's Under 18s beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 to get back to winning ways in the Football League Youth Alliance North East Division.
In their first game since the Christmas break, goals from Remaye Campbell and Dominic Brown-Hill handed Dan Leivers' side victory.
Campbell collected a long throw and rolled his marker to slam in the opener but the young Magpies were pegged back when a Rovers striker slotted past Curtis Hall.
However, Brown-Hill's free-kick in the final five minutes secured victory, Notts' third in their previous four matches.
Head of academy coaching Dan Leivers was pleased with his side's display, saying: "We moved the ball well throughout the game and it was a good performance.
"Doncaster are a good side and beat us 4-1 last time out. They usually have a way of playing but came out at the start of the game in a different manner which we had to react to.
"They tried to play around us by committing us into pressing high but we did not allow it which frustrated them.
"We knew we would create opportunities and the first chance Remaye got, he scored. I was pleased for him because he held the ball up well and was quite isolated at times.
"Conceding the equaliser sparked us back into life as we slacked off a little after taking the lead."
The win moves Notts to within three points of league leaders Mansfield Town, who have played a game more.
And Leivers has Notts' local rivals firmly in his sights.
He said: "It's getting tighter at the top now.
"If we win our game in hand we can go level on points with Mansfield and above Burton, but Oldham have won their last four and have games in hand themselves so they have to be considered a threat."
Brown-Hill was involved in the first-team squad for the Sky Bet League Two trip to Morecambe on 10 January, which included an overnight stay.
And Leivers can already see the positive effects that experience has had on the midfielder.
"Dom is playing with a lot of confidence and maturity," he said.
"It can be difficult for a young player to go up and be involved with the first team before coming back to play for the under 18s but he handled it superbly and showed why he is our captain.
"He looked like a first-team player playing youth team football which is great to see. Saturday is probably the best I have seen him play for us."
Starting XI: Hall, Cobain, Dunn, Brown-Hill, Richards, Dearle, Clayton-Naute, Howes, Campbell, Towers, Gibbons.