Peter Sweeney marked his first ninety minutes of the season with a match-winning performance as City comfortably saw off the challenge of table-toppers Huddersfield Town in the Pontins Holiday League.

The Scottish under-21 international winger scored the first and then set-up Martin Paterson for a second late on for the Potters, who fielded a blend of youth and experience.

The home side were the dominant force throughout, breaking the deadlock inside ten minutes. Bruce Dyer linked up with Anthony Pulis to set up Sweeney, who drilled a fierce low-angled drive beyond visiting 'keeper Phil Senior.

Huddersfield almost grabbed an instant reply, but David Walls skewed wide from close range after City failed to clear a corner.

Paterson was proving a valuable outlet from the right of midfield and spurned three excellent opportunities to extend the Potters advantage before the break.

The young starlet dragged a shot across the face of goal in the fifteenth minute before Senior was on hand to halt two testing efforts.

The Terriers 'keeper was again at his best to overt a speculative effort from Bruce Dyer soon after the interval, but was finally beaten ten minutes from the end as City piled on the pressure.

The tireless Paterson latched onto a threaded pass from Sweeney and confidently slotted the ball into the bottom-corner after skipping clear of his marker.

John Halls almost capped a convincing performance with a third goal in the dying seconds, but saw a thunderous 25-yard effort cannon back off the crossbar as the Potters cruised to a much-needed three points.

Chris Alcock

City: Duggan, Henry, Dickinson, Junior (Vass 60), Wilkinson, Halls, Paterson, Pulis, Dyer, Rooney (Smith 71), Sweeney. Subs (Not Used): Shotton, Hazley, Zsivozcky.

Huddersfield: Senior, Hardy, Lloyd, Collins, McCombe, Clarke, Racchi (Akins 66), Young, Highley, Walls, Hand. Subs (Not Used): Wilson, Eastwood, Akarz, Malcher.