Archive: Stoke City vs. Chelsea Reserves - Match Report (03/10/09)

Published on FansOnline, at http://fansonline.net/stokecity/article.php?id=248

Stoke City rose to defeat the Blues last night at Nantwich Town's Weaver Stadium 3-2, however striker Sidibe was only on the pitch for four minutes before pulling up with a hamstring injury. Yet the Stoke boys didn't faulter, with his replacement Louis Moult, Michael Tonge and Diego Arismendi all on target to see off a stubborn Chelsea side. Constant pressure from Chelsea denied Stoke of an easy ride, with Fabio Borini hitting the bar before assisting Danny Mills for the first whilst Conor Clifford pulled the second back to level the game 2-2 before Arismendi's late winner settled the game in Stoke's favour. The win is Stoke's first of the new campaign, and now sit fourth in the Barclays Premier Reserve League - South, above Chelsea in fifth.

The game started badly for Stoke, when Sidibe - handed substitute roles in the 2-2 draw with Wolves and the Carling Cup defeat to Portsmouth last week - was forced to come off after sustaining an injury in only the fourth minute. The striker, returning from an already long lay-off on the sidelnes, looks forced to sit out the next handful of games after a physio assessment last night. Promising youngster Moult started off the scoring in the 12th minute when Andy Griffin's deep cross was met at the far post by Moult, whos header hit home via the post. After sustaining a short period of pressure from Chelsea - notable hitman Borini's crack at the woodwork from 18 yards out and scuffed shot at an open goal minutes later - Chelsea eventually found a way back in the game after half an hour. Central defender Danny Mills rose at the far post to head in Borini's cross from the left wing to level the match 1-1. Chelsea took the lead with just under an hour played, and although goalie Simonsen managed to get a hand to the ball, Conor Clifford's 35-yard piledriver was hit too venomously to be stopped as the ball smashed home to give the Londoners the lead. The Stoke boys wouldn't give up however, and with only five minutes on the clock, star man Arismendi spotted Tonge with a fine cross from the right wing to head home past Chelsea keeper Sebek and level the game once more. With the game poised to end as a draw, it seemed Stoke were unwilling to end with a point. This time, Tonge's cross on the right wing was met by Danny Higginbotham, whos deft flick to Arismendi saw his acute shot rise about Sebek and gave the Potters the match-winning goal to finish the game 3-2. Stoke sit fourth in the Reserve League - South with 3 points in 2 games, and face a tricky test against Portmouth in the coming weeks.