U21 Report: Stoke 1-0 Saints

After a positive first half for Saints, Stoke went ahead on 57 minutes through Gabriel Kelly’s superb strike.

Saints could have responded when they won a penalty, but Nick Oyekunle’s spot-kick was saved before the striker then was then sent off for two bookable offences as the regular season ended with a disappointing result.

The first shot on target of the game came from forward Jay Robinson on his return to the Under-21s side, when he controlled the ball well inside the Stoke penalty area and stung the palms of home goalkeeper Caleb Clothier.

Saints had made a bright start to the contest and Robinson then worked Clothier again when his low effort from range needed turning wide.

Goalkeeper George Moloney’s first piece of action on his Under-21s debut came in the 22nd minute, when a clearance from Joachim Kayi Sanda cannoned back off Syd Agina and required strong reflexes to stop the hosts taking the lead.

Oyekunle then had the best opportunity of the first half when he beat his marker and advanced into the right side of the Stoke area before flashing a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far post.

Jay Robinson made his return to action with the Under-21s.

Saints started the second half with a good chance to take the lead when the ball was set back to substitute Aston Daley in a good shooting position, but the midfielder’s strike flew over the bar.

Stoke then went close to breaking the deadlock when striker Jerome Osei Kyremeh fired in a powerful strike from range that was well saved by Moloney.

However, just before the hour mark the home side did take the lead when Kelly sent a fizzing half-volley flying into the net from just outside the box.

Saints then had the perfect opportunity to get level in the game when Oyekunle won and took a penalty, but his spot-kick was well saved by Clothier.

Chinonso Chibueze could have doubled the hosts' advantage when he cut in from the left and looked to find the far corner with a curling effort that flew just wide of the far post.

On a day where not much had gone Saints’ way, Oyekunle was then sent off for a seemingly harsh second bookable offence as it proved tough for Adam Lallana’s side to get back into the game late on.

However, Saints now advance to the knockout phase of Premier League 2 after a positive campaign, with their opponent for a home Round of 16 tie set to be announced in due course.

Stoke City: Clothier, Agina (Maskall 66'), Oppong, Thompson (Connell 76'), Otegbayo, Kelly (c), Fearn, Achu (Enabulele 88'), Osei Kyremeh, Walker, Chibueze.

Subs not used: Cooper, Ogbebor.

Goals: Kelly (57').

Yellow cards: Osei Kyremeh, Clothier.

Saints: Moloney, Adjei-Afriyie (Whittaker 66'), Tabares, Kayi Sanda, Okunola, O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Charles 66'), Kakay, Rohart-Brown, Oyekunle, Robinson (Daley 45').

Subs not used: Moody, Dobson-Ventura.

Yellow cards: Okunola, Oyekunle, Kakay.

Red cards: Oyekunle