By Stoke City FC

  • Manchester United run out 3-1 winners at Leigh Sports Village
  • Hosts had taken the lead before Potters deservedly levelled
  • Kyeremateng goal not enough however to claim at least a point

Stoke City’s U23s fell to their first defeat on the road, after Manchester United put three past a spirited Blondy Nna Noukeu in the Potters net, writes Matt Bates.

The 18-year-old made a series of impressive stops during the game, including a fine one-handed save to deny Angel Gomes from the spot in the second half.

Mason Greenwood found the net first for the hosts, but Gabriel Kyeremateng pulled the score level with his sixth goal in all competitions, controlling Daniel Jarvis’ cross and powering into the top corner.

However, the hosts pulled away early in the second half, Gomes making it two with a left-footed shot, before Largie Ramazani rounded the Stoke ‘keeper for three.

Gabriel Kyeremateng

The Potters began the game on the back foot, but Nna Noukeu especially started the game as he meant to go on, impressively saving a Greenwood shot with his feet in the first five minutes.

At 1-0, he produced two more stops with his legs, impressively stopping both Greenwood and Chong. 

Up the other end, Lasse Sorensen forced Paul Woolston into a great save of his own, before Kyeremateng’s leveller.

The second half was a similar affair to the first, Nna Noukeu pulling off further saves that even had the hosts' faithful watching in awe, Chong being denied twice more.

Cameron McJannet

The hosts slowed down after the goals from Gomes and Ramazani, but Kevin Russell’s side continued to press down the flanks.

Jarvis would have pulled the Potters back into the game, had it not been for a wonderful save from Woolston to turn away his effort from the top corner. The hosts stood firm, even with all 10 of Stoke’s outfield players in their opponent’s own half.

Despite goalkeeping heroics throughout the game, it wasn’t the Potters’ night, summed up by Wara’s late shot that beat Woolston, but bounced off both posts and away.

Stoke City XI: Nna Noukeu, Wara, Corrigan, Forrester, McJannet, Kigbu, Dunwoody, Sorensen, Kyeremateng, Ngoy, Jarvis. Unused subs: Kanuric, Akandji, Porter, Sankoh, Varian.