City Under 18's rounded off their home campaign by sharing four goals with Barnsley in a game packed with chances.

The young Potters raced into a two goal lead, with midfielder Andy Nicholls netting a brace of headers, before the visitors scored either side of half time to level the game up.

Ady Pennock gave a home debut to right back Nick Jackson, a recent signing from Manchester United, whilst Barnsley had first team experience in the shape of striker Jamil Adams in their side.

The hosts started the better and broke the deadlock in the tenth minute when Jackson laid the ball back to Louis Moult. Moult whipped in a dangerous ball to the back post where the incoming Nicholls, playing on the left wing, rose highest to power a header across the keeper and inside the far post.

The hosts continued to look a class above and in the 16th minute the lead was nearly doubled as Ryan Connor rolled the ball into Moult who flicked it into the run of Danny Stockhall. With Stockhall racing onto the ball the defender came across and smashed it into touch, denying the City midfielder getting one-on-one on goal.

For all the home side's pressure the Tykes nearly got themselves level in the nineteenth minute when Matt Cohen misjudged a diving header back to goalkeeper Dave Parton allowing Adams to pick up the loose ball 18 yards out. Parton spead himself well and pushed Adams powerful shot away from goal before Ashley Page mopped up the loose ball.

Stoke regained their composure and just before the half hour mark, Moult nearly supplied Nicholls with a second goal when he whipped another dangerous cross into the box. Nicholls chested the ball down before firing in his shot. The keeper deflected the ball away with his leg and the ball skewed out for a throw in.

Just three minutes later Wedderburn sprayed the ball wide to Diao. The Dutch defender pushed the ball into Moult. The City hitman flicked the ball into Stockhall who blasted a ferocious shot inches over the bar.

City continued to pile forward and Cohen, Nicholls and Stockhall all went close before Nicholls eventually doubled the advantage when Moult curled a corner to the back post where the energetic midfielder lost his marker and headed the ball into the roof of the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

At this point it looked as though the Potters would just waltz to victory but the visitors immediately pulled a controversial goal back when a corner was floated in and after failing to fully clear it keeper Parton seemed to be held down as the ball was clipped into the empty net by a Barnsley player.

The hosts could have restored their two goal lead seconds after the restart when Tom Urwin broke down the wing before sliding the ball to Connor on the edge of the 6-yard box but the tough tackling midfielder could only manage to scoop the ball up and over the bar.

Urwin was involved again on fifty minutes when, after the keeper just beat him to a Moult through ball, the keeper throw out was blocked by the winger. Urwin then chipped the ball towards the net but was denied by a retreating defender clearing the shot off the line.

The clearance flew downfield and skimmed off the head of Connor, which took it past the Page and Cohen in defence and through to Adams who smashed it into the top corner, leaving Parton with no chance.

Stoke immediately set about trying to regain the advantage and Urwin skipped along the edge of the Tykes box before laying off for Connor to smash an thunderbolt of a shot inches wide of the post with the keeper a mere spectator.

Tricky winger Urwin's afternoon was cut short on fifty eight minutes due to a nasty looking ankle injury when, after chasing a Wedderburn through ball and robbing the defender of the ball, Moult rolled the ball into the 6-yard box where Urwin's attempted shot was met with a strong block tackle that forced him off after lengthy treatment, with Warwick Alexander introduced in his place.

The game started to flow from end to end and Parton did well to push Adams wide after a mistake from Page whilst Nicholls was denied a hat trick of headers when he headed Connor's free kick just wide of the near post.

The visitors could have taken the lead with 18 minutes left but were denied by the crossbar before City broke away.

Moult's low cross just evaded the powerful run of Wedderburn as he looked to toe the ball in from 4 yards.

Both sides continued to have chances to win it and Alexander tested the keeper from 20 yards before Parton superbly got down to tip a fizzing effort away from goal, with Diao completing the clearance.

The ball was in the back of the net with five minutes left as Alexander nodded down to Moult who threaded the ball to substitute Adam Vickers, just on for Stockhall. Vickers drilled the ball into the corner of the net but the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Barnsley were winning numerous corners but failing to trouble Stoke with them as the game drew to a close whilst Diao smashed a blistering shot inches wide and Wedderburn saw a powerful shot deflected into the grateful arms of the keeper.

Parton had one last save to make in injury time when he got down well at his near post to gather a driven effort and make sure the Potters took a point from the game.

CITY (4-4-2): Parton; Jackson, Diao, Cohen, Page; Urwin (Alexander 58), Nicholls, Wedderburn (c), Connor; Stockhall (Vickers 75), Moult.

By Dan Buxton