STOKE CITY RESERVES 0
WEST HAM UNITED RESERVES 0
CITY'S second string picked up a point from Tuesday night's Barclays Premier Reserve League clash against West Ham United at the Weaver Stadium.
In what proved to be a somewhat lethargic encounter, chances for both sides were at a premium, with neither side managing to get a foot-hold of the game.
Academy youngster Cameron Mitchell spurned City's best opportunity early on, whilst Hammers defender Callum Driver should have done better when he squirmed free inside the penalty area.
The impressive Louis Moult almost nicked all three points for the hosts late on, however, his powerful effort was superbly saved by United stopper Marek Stech.
Ahead of the game First Team Coach Mark O'Connor named James Beattie in his starting line-up as he continued his rehabilitation back from a minor knee operation two months ago.
He was partnered in attack by Moult, whilst the midfield quartet featured first teamers Amdy Faye, Danny Pugh and former Crewe Alexandra man Matthew Lund.
City's backline included Andrew Davies along with the relatively inexperienced trio of Academy scholars - Matthew Cohen, Layton Wint and Rodney MacDonald.
The game did show early signs of promise as both sets of players pushed forward feverishly in search of a quick breakthrough.
Lund firstly warmed the hands of Stech from range, before Bosnian international Begovic watched Hammers star Driver harmlessly blaze over from just 6-yards moments later.
Moult, who recently penned a two-year deal with the club, then linked up sublimely with Mitchell on the right flank, however, after trading passes Mitchell agonisingly fired well wide of the left hand post.
The game then turned scrappy for a long period as both sides looked to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Right on the stroke of half-time Lund curled an effort straight into the palms of Stech after a neat interchange with Senegalese international Faye.
The second half could have seen the Potters find an early breakthrough when Pugh fired an audacious volley goalwards, only for Stech to respond superbly by palming the ball over the bar.
Oliver Lee, son of former Newcastle and England man Robert, then went close for the visitors as he forced Begovic into a smart save down at his near post, whilst Beattie linked up well with Moult to forge an opening in which the 18-year old tested the Hammers keeper again.
Right at the death Moult again went close with a rasping thirty yard drive which seemed destined to drop into the top left hand corner, until man of the match Stech again responded brilliantly.
CITY: Begovic; Cohen, MacDonald, Davies, Wint; Lund, Mitchell (Nicholls 87), A. Faye, Pugh; Moult, Beattie. Subs: Parton, Hedley, Sinclair, Jackson.
WEST HAM: Stech; Driver, Spence, McNaughton, Ferrari; Lee, Sanchez, Payne, Edgar; Montano (Subuola 83), Dixon (Abdullah 76). Subs: Cowler, Barrett, Wearen.
