- Bonham saves late penalty in Central League clash
- Under 21s record second successive victory in competition
- Sidibe's first City goal in 24/25 seals 1-0 victory in Greater Manchester
First team stopper Jack Bonham saved a late spot-kick to help guide Stoke City Under 21s to a 1-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers in the Central League on Wednesday.
Sol Sidibe fired the contest's sole strike in the first-half before a 76th-minute Wanderers penalty was claimed by Bonham to secure a second successive victory in the competition for the Young Potters.
City named two changes from their National League Cup defeat against Altrincham last time out, with Bonham adding match minutes ahead of a congested festive fixture programme in place of Alfie Brooks.
Meanwhile, second-year scholar Pijus Otegbayo replaced Republic of Ireland youth international Jake Griffin - who joined Brackley Town on loan on Monday - to earn his first Under 21s start, with the 16-year-old accompanying Jaden Dixon and Freddie Anderson, both 17, in a back three.
The Potters started the game as the stronger of the two teams and claimed the first opportunity of the afternoon in the 11th minute when Republic of Ireland youth international Darius Lipsiuc drilled a clever pull-back from Emre Tezgel into the arms of Bolton stopper Luke Hutchinson.
Soon after, Chinonso Chibueze forced the Trotters' number one into a second save when Hutchinson flicked his powerful strike from distance around the post.
City didn't have to wait much longer for their opener though, as in the 19th minute Sidibe curled an effort from the edge of the hosts' box beyond the reach of Hutchinson to find the back of the net.
The remainder of the half proved cagey, with the Potters registering the final chance of the opening 45 midway through when Lipsiuc cannoned a loose ball onto the Wanderers' woodwork.
The young midfielder came close again shortly after the break when he volleyed Tezgel's clever, curved ball narrowly wide of the Trotters' net.
Lipsiuc then thought he had doubled the Potters' lead following some excellent link-up play with Chibueze in the latter stages of the contest, but his driven strike was pushed around the post at full stretch by Hutchinson.
Despite City's control throughout the Central League clash, the hosts had the chance to level in the 76th minute when Connor Carty was tripped inside the Potters' penalty area to earn a spot kick.
However, the Wanderers' resulting penalty was denied by Bonham, who leaped to his left to clutch Carty's strike to his chest to retain the Potters' advantage in Greater Manchester.
City held on to secure their second successive Central League victory and will return to action on Friday, January 10, when they host Aston Villa at Clayton Wood in PL2.
Stoke City: Bonham, Otegbayo, Anderson, Dixon (Gyimah 61), Griffiths, Gromek, Sidibe (Kelly 61), Agina, Tezgel (Jeffers 61), Lipsiuc, Chibueze (Willox 74).
Subs: Brooks.
Bolton Wanderers: Hutchinson, Toole, Hogan, Weston, Matheson, Halford (Leigh 67), Irwin, Westwood (Nuttall 81), Eze (Carty 45), Mendes Gomes (Bryan 45), Isong (Abimbola 67).