Stoke Beaten at the Death

SCFC U18s 1 - 2 MCFC U18s

City were not at their best as there was four changes to their usual line up and undeservedly snatched a winner in the ninety fourth minute in which a John Guidetti header was deflected in off a Stoke head. City had gone in front from Abdi Ibrahim but Stoke had drew level within three minutes in the first half.

City were without Greg Cunningham, Andrew Tutte, Ahmed Benali and Keran Trippier was on the bench and so in came Tom Smith, Omar Elabdellaoui, Jeremy Helan and Jack Redshaw. Without Tutte and Trippier starting; Dedryck Boyata took the responsibility of wearing the arm band.

City took the lead in the twenty fourth minute when Alex Nimley-Tchuimeni was fouled in the Stoke half and Chris Chantler sent a ball to the far post but the ball came back to the un-marked Ibrahim who slotted home from about five yards out.

Stoke drew themselves level three minutes later direct from a free kick on the left that went through everyone and in to the far corner of the goal.

The second half saw a rather tempestuous affair as the referee seemed to lose a bit of control as players on both sides pushed things too far and ultimately a Stoke player paid the price with a red card after a second yellow for dissent.

City made some changes by bringing Trippier and Guidetti on and Trippier immediately took the arm band back of Boyata and City looked a better balanced side with these two on.

City's winner came when Redshaw made a strong run down the left and sent in a decent cross that was put behind for a corner. Trippier whipped in the dead ball and Guidetti rose well but his header clipped off the top of the Stoke player's head.

City's win now puts them fifteen points clear of Manchester United as they have not played today as this was usually a week off for the academies but City have used this to play the re-arranged fixture from December. There is no league game next week as we are in action in the youth cup quarter final against Norwich at the City of Manchester stadium on Saturday with a 2pm kick off.


City: Clegg(GK), Smith(Trippier 69), Chantler, Wabara(Carter 84), Boyata, Elabdellaoui, Redshaw, Ibrahim, Mak, Nimley-Tchuimeni, Helan(Guidetti 69).

Subs: Mitchell.

Good news for the U16s as they finally ended their run without a win with a one nil victory; but I must say that they have been performing quite well during that barren spell despite many under age players.