Dale Eve and his Stoke City Under 18 teammates got back to winning ways in the Barclays Under-18 Premier League with a 2-1 away victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Stoke City took a first-half lead courtesy of a poachers finish from George Waring, and John Perkins’ side doubled their advantage after half-time when Marcel Barrington found the back of the net with a great volley.
Declan Weeks pulled a goal back for Wolves in the last minute, but Stoke held on for a deserved three points that ends their two-game losing streak following back-to-back defeats against Sunderland and Tottenham.
Wolverhampton had a chance to open the scoring following a quick breakaway from a Stoke corner, but Stoke City’s captain and goalkeeper Eve got down well to block Ibrahim Keita’s strike from a tight angle.
Stoke City weren’t to be denied as they opened the scoring with a deserved goal. Makrillos saw his drive saved by the ‘keeper, but he could only parry it and Waring was quickest to react to fire the ball into the top of the net.
Waring tried to get a second soon after, but his header was saved, and Eve had to be alert at the other end to deny the home side. Barrington fired over when one-on-one and crossed the ball for Waring soon after who couldn’t direct his header on target.
Ward then shot wide from distance before Scott saw his first-time volley saved by the Wolves goalie. Jake Cook made a surging run with the ball from his own half to the edge of the box, where he played in Waring, but the striker’s shot lacked power to trouble Scott Dutton.
Stoke deserved their half-time lead after a dominant performance in the first period, but the home side missed a great chance to pull a goal back on the hour mark.
The ball fell to substitute Daniel Murray just six-yards from goal in acres of space, but the winger shot straight at Eve with just the goalkeeper to beat. Makrillos saw his curling effort go over before Barrington doubled Stoke’s lead.
Scott got the ball from a throw-in and played a great cross to the back-post to Barrington, who chested the ball and volleyed a superb finish into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
|
