STOKE CITY'S Under-18 side slipped to a 2-0 defeat against midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion at the Clayton Wood training ground on Wednesday afternoon.

The Potters went into the Premier Academy League Group C clash knowing victory would elevate them to within one point of second-placed Manchester United, while the Baggies were chasing a victory to close the gap on leaders Everton.

It was the visitors who went home with all three points thanks to late strikes from Ethan Mannion and Adil Nabi, although the Potters had chances of their own to take the lead with both Adam Vickers and Andy Nicholls going agonisingly close in either half.

Academy Coach Adrian Pennock was again without leading goal-scorer Louis Moult, due to his first-team commitments, while regular starters Ryan Connor, Rodney McDonald and Tom Urwin were also missing as they undertook trials with Championship sides Plymouth and Blackpool.

Despite that, City's somewhat younger side almost found themselves ahead in the 10th minute when the lively Adam Vickers capitalised on a poor back pass from an Albion defender. However, after finding space to shoot, he mulled over the ball too long and allowed Ashley Malcolm to clear the ball away from danger.

At the other end, Zack Foster came to the Potters' rescue with a superb goal-line challenge after Sam Mantom looked set to fire the visitors ahead after cleverly taking the ball around keeper Dave Parton.

The lively Vickers then brought the best out of Albion's number one Ryan Allsop with a powerful effort from 25-yards, while his opposite number Parton was thankful to his right hand post on the stroke of half time, as Nabi's crisp strike cannoned straight back into his arms.

The second period began in pretty much similar fashion to the first as the Potters pushed forward in search of the game's first goal.

Warwick Alexander used his strength to hold off the challenge of a Baggies defender, before turning and smashing the ball seemingly towards the bottom right hand corner, only to see the keeper respond with an equally impressive save.

Ten minutes later, man of the match Andy Nicholls did manage to beat Allsop after glancing Jack Harrison's corner towards the top right hand corner, but fortunately for the visitors, Malcolm came to their rescue as he headed the ball from underneath the crossbar.

Alexander then blazed over after latching onto an acute ball from Cameron Mitchell, before Parton had his hands tested at the other end by Mannion.

With 15 minutes remaining a goal seemed almost inevitable, but it was anybody's guess as to who would break the deadlock. Neither side looked content with a point and both pushed forward in search of what would be a hugely important first goal of the game.

Sadly, when it did come, it was for the visitors as Mannion curled home an exquisite free-kick from 25-yards after Matthew Cohen had tripped him just outside the penalty area moments earlier.

The goal breathed a new lease of life into the visitors who soon ensured they would inflict City's first home league defeat since October, as fellow striker Nabi danced his way into the penalty area and calmly rounded Parton before tapping the ball into an empty net.