STOKE CITY RESERVES 3 (Moult 11, Tonge 79, Arismendi 90+1)
CHELSEA RESERVES 2 (Mills 29, Clifford 59)

DIEGO ARISMENDI struck his first goal in Stoke City colours to snatch a dramatic 3-2 victory in the Barclays Premier Reserve League South match against Chelsea.

The Uruguayan international midfielder popped up at the far post to squeeze home a firm shot in the final minute of normal time to secure a thrilling win for the Potters.

That late, late goal came at the end of an action-packed night in which striker Mamady Sidibe had suffered a cruel setback in his comeback from a long injury lay-off.

The Barclays Premier Reserve League South game was barely four minutes old when the Malian international pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring strain.

Sidibe had been hoping to step up his comeback bid in the Chelsea match after making appearances as a substitute in City's previous two matches, the Carling Cup defeat at Portsmouth last week and then the 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

He has only returned to action within the past fortnight after being out of action for nine months with a knee ligament injury, but could now face another spell on the sidelines.

As for Arismendi's late winner, that capped what was an entertaining game in which substitute Louis Moult and Michael Tonge were also on target for the Potters as they suddenly found goals much easier to come by at Nantwich Town's Weaver Stadium.

Ironically enough, it was Sidibe's replacement, rising star Moult, who broke the deadlock for City in the 12th minute lead when his far post header from Andy Griffin's deep right wing cross was directed back across goal and went in off the post.

It was the Potters reward for a promising start to the match, but they soon found themselves having to withstand a period of sustained Chelsea pressure as the visitors looked to hit back with Fabio Borini proving a particular menace to them.

Borini hit the bar with a left foot drive from just inside the box and then should have done better when he seized upon a slip by Leon Cort to hook a shot over the bar.

City also lived dangerously when Jacopo Sala sent over a left wing corner and Nemanja Matic rose at the far post to plant his header wide of the target.

Chelsea eventually got back on level terms on the half hour and not surprisingly Borini was involved as he delivered the left wing cross from which central defender Danny Mills stooped at the far post to head home from close range.

City had to soak up more Chelsea pressure early in the second half and Steve Simonsen produced a one-handed save to deny Milan Lalkovic.

But the 'keeper could do little to prevent Conor Clifford from putting the Londoners in front on the hour in spectacular fashion, even though he managed to get a hand to his fiercely struck 35-yard drive as it flew into the top corner.

There was a delay while Chelsea 'keeper Jan Sebek received treatment after he saved bravely at the feet of David Kitson after some neat approach work from City gave the striker a glimmer of a chance as they looked for an equaliser.

At the other end, a linesman's flag spared Simonsen an embarrassing moment when he failed to hold onto a powerful long range shot from Matic, Lalkovic being adjudged offside as he tucked the rebound away from six yards out.

City made the most of that let-off by grabbing an equaliser five minutes later as Arismendi picked out Tonge with a cross from the right and the midfielder's looping header dropped beyond the reach of Sebek and into the net.

It seemed that both sides had settled for a point, but when Tonge sent over a corner from the right. Danny Higginbotham flicked it on for Arismendi to grab the winner with a rising shot that flew past Sebek and a defender on the line.

CITY: Simonsen, Griffin, Pugh, Wedderburn (Lund 81 mins), Cort, Higginbotham, Soares, Arismendi, Kitson, Tonge, Sidibe (Moult 6 mins). Subs: Parton, Cohen.

CHELSEA: Sebek, Ahamed, Mills, Ofori-Twumasi, Gordon, Clifford, Sala (Woods 64 mins), Matic (Philliskirk 87 mins), McEachran (Strickland 89 mins), Borini, Lalkovic. Subs: Heimann, Knott.

Referee: C.N. Harwood