STOKE CITY 2 (Pericard 27, Buxton 50)
OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1 (Alessandra 13)

City's reserves got back to winning ways this afternoon with a 2-1 defeat of Oldham Athletic in the Pontins Holiday's League Central Division at the Lyme Valley Stadium.

Vincent Pericard and Lewis Buxton were on the scoresheet for the Potters as they bounced back from successive defeats against Coventry and Walsall.

It was the visitors who took the lead, however, Lewis Alessandra knocking home a rebound after thirteen after Danzelle St. Louis Hamilton had saved Matty Wolfenden's initial strike.

But just before the half hour mark levelled proceedings when a neat through ball by Marc Grocott was latched onto by Pericard who finished well to notch his fourth reserve goal of the season.

The Potters then went ahead five minutes after the restart as Lewis Buxton rose highest to power his header past Les Pogliacomi, after Demar Phillips' inch perfect corner.

Coach Mark O'Connor was delighted with the win, saying, "It was a good opportunity for players who have been in and around the side to get a game after all the travelling they've done over the Christmas period.

"I thought we played very well today. I was particularly impressed with young Demar, who I thought was outstanding in the first half.

"It was also good to see Vincent grab a goal, I thought he took it really well.

"There were a few younger lads in there today as well and they all showed a lot of potential."

CITY (4-4-2): St. Louis-Hamilton; Buxton, Zakuani, (Watson 63), Broomes (c), Wedderburn; De Laet, Pulis (J Phillips 63), Thorley, D. Phillips; Grocott, Pericard (McDonald 63). Sub (Not Used): Ryan (GK).

OLDHAM: Pogliacomi, Walsh, Black, Chalmers (Kilcourse 63), Knight, Thompson (Fitzgerald 22), Thaker, Pearson, Alessandra, Wolfenden, Dawson (Brook 67). Subs (Not Used): Bell, Owen.