STOKE CITY 1 (Grocott 60)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 (Morrison 40, Worrall 83)

A controversial late goal denied the Potters a point in this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash with local rivals West Bromwich Albion.

The decisive moment came with just seven minutes remaining when Albion duo Sebastien Lake-Gaskin and Josh Knight carved open the City backline to play in the unmarked Dave Worrall at the far post.

When his shot was superbly saved by keeper Danzelle St. Louis-Hamilton, it seemed he had preserved the Potters a deserved point, yet the ball unfortunately squirmed through his legs and rolled perilously towards the goal line.

It appeared he clawed the ball out, yet the linesman's flag was raised and the goal was given.

City looked set to take a point out of the game when captain Marc Grocott levelled proceedings on the hour.

This would have been a fair conclusion after a gritty and determined performance by Adrian Pennock's young guns.

After a lacklustre 40 minutes, the game got the goal it craved when the Baggies hit the Potters with an incisive breakaway led by Lake-Gaskin and Knight.

After a perfectly weighted pass by Lake-Gaskin, Knight was able to whip in a teasing first-time cross for Stefan Morrison, who brushed aside the attention of Salif Diao-Jimanez to bundle the ball over the line.

This, however, was the catalyst for City to spring into life.

Substitute Jeff Ho replaced the injured Richard Vauls after just six minutes and the attack-minded left back's weaving run and shot immediately went about testing Baggies custodian Gavin Carlin.

After the interval it was City who continued to battle and scrap for every ball, with Albion becoming increasingly frustrated and that was optimised when substitute Michael Nardiello rattled the crossbar.

After cutting inside onto his left foot he curled a dipping shot, leaving St. Louis-Hamilton stranded as he watched the ball crash onto his upright.

But the Potters' persistence and endeavour then got them a deserved equaliser.

After looking dangerous on many occasions from set-pieces, they finally made one count.

Tom Thorley's deep in-swinging free kick was superbly met by Grocott's head at the back post.

It was a fine goal from the City striker, who peeled intelligently away from his marker and guided his header across Carlin from an acute angle.

St. Louis-Hamilton then denied Nardiello a winner when the striker steered Ricky Nicholls' pinpoint cross goalwards, but Dave Worrall's controversial goal soon followed to deliver a cruel blow to the home side and keep the Potters rooted to the foot of the table.

CITY (4-4-2): Harrison (St. Louis-Hamilton 45); Diao-Jimanez, Page, Owens, Vauls (Ho 6); Keys, Thorley, Wedderburn, Watson; Moult (McCormick 54), Grocott (c). Subs (Not Used): J. Phillips, Yilmaz.

WEST BROM: Carlin, Pike, Mason, Labadie, Manchester, Holmes (Nicholls 77), Worrall, Samuels, Morrison (Nardiello 67), Lake-Gaskin, Knight. Subs (Not Used): Lloyd-Weston, Saied.

Bookings - City: Page, Keys, Ho. West Brom: Labadie.

Referee: Mr C Husband. Assistants: Mr D Dytiche, Mr J Taylor.

By Mark Jackson