STOKE CITY 1 (Higginbotham 61)
ASTON VILLA 2 (Delfouneso 31, Osbourne 84)

An entertaining clash at the Britannia Stadium saw City slip to a narrow 2-1 defeat against an extremely strong Aston Villa side.

Nathan Delfouneso's goal mid-way through the first half put the visitors ahead before debutant Danny Higginbotham levelled early in the second half.

Isaiah Osbourne stole the show late on though as he clinically fired home from 12-yards to secure the win for the 2007/08 Barclays Premier Reserve League South champions.

City boss Adrian Pennock fielded new boy Higginbotham, along with a number of first team fringe players including Steve Simonsen, Danny Pugh and Richard Cresswell.

The visitors from down the M6 named first team stars Steve Sidwell, Marlon Harewood, Zat Knight and recent £8,000,000 signing Carlos Cuellar in their line up.

Villa started brightly and almost took an immediate lead through Marlon Harewood.

The powerfully built striker neatly controlled inside the 18-yard box, swivelled and launched an audacious volley which flew over the crossbar.

City then began to get some rhythm going and started to play some lovely one touch football which earned a free-kick mid-way into the Villa half.

The long searching ball forward fell to debutant Higginbotham, who acrobatically fired goalwards, only to see young goalkeeper Chris Parish brilliantly palm the ball out for a corner.

The visitors were next to try their luck midway through the first half, but after former Notts Forest star Harewood fired the ball into the box, Steve Sidwell headed over Steve Simonsen's bar.

Kevin McDonald's side then took the lead shortly before the half hour through young striker Delfouneso.

The nippy striker latched onto Wayne Routledge's clever centre and calmly placed the ball beyond Simonsen and into the far corner of the net.

The Potters though looked to immediately hit back, and almost did through Cresswell, but his header from 8-yards dipped inches over.

Neither side made any changes during the half time interval as both managers kept faith with their starting eleven.

City looked lively early on with the impressive Jimmy Phillips causing the Villa rearguard numerous problems with his trickery and pace.

In fact it was his delivery early on in the second period which resulted in City deservedly levelling the scoreline.

Higginbotham, who looked impressive throughout, rose highest to power home from 6-yards after Phillips' ball into the box evaded everyone bar the former Sunderland man.

Within minutes Villa substitute Barry Bannan almost put the visitors back into the driving seat but his header was blocked by Lewis Buxton at the near post.

Captain Higginbotham then ensured City remained on level terms with a superb last ditch tackle to thwart Routledge who looked set to fire past Simonsen on 65 minutes.

Both side's had chances to take the lead as the game went on with both Sidwell for Villa and Cresswell for the Potters going closest.

However, with just ten minutes remaining it was the visitors who stunned the Potters to take the lead against the run of play.

A long ball forward was only half cleared by Buxton, and Osbourne stole a march on the defender to exquisitely volley the ball past Simonsen with just six minutes remaining.

Pennock's side pushed forward late on looking to snatch a point, however the Villa backline stood firm to pick up maximum points, while Pugh was sent off in the final minute for violent conduct.

CITY (4-4-2): Simonsen; Wilkinson, Buxton, Higginbotham (c), Pugh; J. Phillips, Grocott, Wedderburn, De Laet; Pericard, Cresswell. Subs (Not Used): Harrison (gk), Moult, McDonald, Vauls, Alexander.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-2): Parish; Herd, Knigh, Cuellar, Baker; Routledge (Stieber), Sidwell, Osbourne, Bannan (Albrighton); Harewood, Delfouneso. Subs (Not Used): Dau, Lichaj, Clark.

Attendance: 675.