City Under 18's impressive run came to an end as they crashed to a heavy defeat at home to Sunderland.

The game was a clash of two of the countries in form sides as the Potters came into the game in 3rd place in their group but were up against a Sunderland side that had won twelve out of thirteen and were sixteen points clear at the top of their group.

Conditions were difficult as strong winds and driving rain made it awkward for both sides and in a largely even contest Sunderland's clinical finishing proved the difference as a goal ten minutes before half time was consolidated with two late strikes.

The game started with both sides trying to adjust to the swirling wind and the first strike at goal came from the home side as winger Tom Urwin took on his marker on the right wing.

He glided past him, being hacked at as he did, before being brought down as he dribbled into the box.

The second foul seemed to take place inside the area yet the referee awarded the Potters a free kick right on the edge of the box.

Connor stepped up and curled the ball across goal with pace, watching in agony as his effort skimmed the angle of bar and post.

Urwin was back in the thick of the action in the twentieth minute as he twisted and turned on the edge of the area before unleashing a powerful effort that whistled inches over the bar with the keeper rooted to the spot.

There was a sign of things to come from the visitors shortly after as a long ball down the middle allowed Ryan Noble to hold off Ashley Page but the pressure applied by the defender made sure he was only able to roll the ball wide of the near post.

The hosts were soon back on the front foot as pressure from Warwick Alexander and Tom Urwin allowed the latter to cut out an attempted clearance.

The tricky winger then rolled the ball into the run of his captain, Nathaniel Wedderburn, but his drilled effort from 30 yards skewed horribly wide with the powerhouse midfielder visibly frustrated with the effort.

City continued to press and on the half hour good build up play saw the ball carried from defence through the midfield before Urwin whipped in a dangerous ball that was heading for Wedderburn until the giant midfielder got a shove in the back.

There were no appeals though and the ball skimmed through and out for a throw in.

For all the pressure applied by the home side it was the visitors who struck first as Liam Bagnall bombed forward from right back before neat interchanging passing saw the ball moved to the byline where it was pulled to the edge of the area to Slegg.

The midfielder hit the ball first time, curling it away from Dave Parton in the home goal and into the top corner to break the deadlock.

The Potters didn't allow their heads to drop though and a throw in was thrown towards Alexander.

The burly hitman chested the ball infield towards Urwin and the pacey winger then left his marker for dust before putting a cross into the area.

The keeper was alert to the danger though and claimed the ball under pressure from Vickers.

The game was now flowing from end to end and a long ball again caused danger among the Potters backline with Rodney McDonald cynically bringing down the visitors striker 20 yards out as he raced through on goal.

The free kick was hit hard and low but the wall stood firm and deflected the ball wide for a corner.

It was from the corner that the home side had their next opportunity as a quick breakaway saw Urwin carry the ball from inside his own half before laying off into the storming run of Wedderburn.

Wedderburn dribbled to the edge of the box before checking onto his weaker right foot and slamming a shot just over the bar.

The last action of the first half would have seen the visitors double their advantage but Parton produced a fine save from Ryan Noble, the young keeper making himself big as the striker bore down on goal before blocking the powerfully hit effort.

A major reshuffle at half time saw the Potters substitute centre backs Page and McDonald for Yusuf Yilmaz and Richard Vauls.

Vauls slotted in at left back with Connor moving to central midfield whilst Yilmaz also moved into the midfield with Wedderburn dropping into central defence, partnering Matthew Cohen with Danny Stockhall taking over from Cohen at right back.

Just five minutes into the second half the hosts used their third and final sub as top scorer Warwick Alexander was replaced by Louis Moult.

The wind and rain was really affecting the quality of the game and it took until the hour mark before either side got an effort in on goal.

That chance came from the visitors as their number 8 collected a pass before blasting an effort over the bar from 25 yards.

With a quarter of an hour left the young Potters created an opportunity themselves as quick, slick passing involving Yilmaz, Moult and Vickers moved the ball towards the edge of the box.

The ball was then laid into the path of Nicholls. The midfielder knocked the ball past the defender before being hauled to the ground.

The free kick was again given right on the edge of the area but Connor's effort was blocked by the wall before Wedderburn's follow up flew wide of the post.

Two minutes later the Potters were looking dangerous again as Moult played a perfect ball behind the defence for the run of Nicholls.

The energetic midfielder sensed a third goal in as many games as he looked to pick his spot but a strong sliding tackle sent both Nicholls and the ball hurling towards the keeper.

The Black Cats secured the three points in the 84th minute as the impressive Bagnall dribbled through the midfield before sliding in the number 16 inside the area.

The winger looked up and rolled the ball across the 6-yard box where Ryan Noble was on hand to bundle it home.

The gloss was then added to the scoreline three minutes from time when a deep cross was half cleared by Danny Stockhall to Liam Noble.

The midfielder controlled the ball before bending it, from 30 yards, into the bottom corner, leaving Parton with no chance.

The Potters continued to press and Urwin dispossessed the Sunderland left back on the half way line before bombing towards goal.

He glided past two defenders before his low cross was deflected out for a corner, denying the hosts a much deserved goal.

The last action nearly saw Bagnall bag a great solo effort when he received a pass on the halfway line before heading for goal.

He sped past three defenders on his way into the penalty area before Weddderburn toe poked the ball away for a corner, just as he was about to get a shot in.

CITY (4-3-3): Parton; Cohen, Page (Vauls 46), McDonald (Yilmaz 46), Connor; Wedderburn (c), Nicholls, Stockhall; Urwin, Vickers, Alexander (Moult 51).

The Under 18's are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Merseyside to face Liverpool whilst there next home game is the only one left this season, against Barnsley on the 25th April, kicking off at 11am.

by Dan Buxton