Leek Town got their pre-season campaign underway with a 2-0 defeat against Stoke City under 23s. Goals either side of half-time from Kehrel Reddin and Nathan Lowe won the game for the young Potters, but Leek manager Neil Baker was proud of the performance his lads put in.
Baker picked a team that would not look out of place in the Northern Premier League next season as it included stars such as Billy Reeves, Dan Trickett-Smith, Marc Grocott and Olly Harrison. He also named new signings Jack Tomlinson (from Stone Old Alleynians), Anthony Malbon and Alex Morris in his squad.
It was Stoke who made all the early running as you would expect with their team being full time playing against the side of part-time players but despite the differences between the two teams, Leek’s defence held up well in the opening exchanges, forcing the young Potters to try their luck from distance. The best efforts came from Lowe and Reddin, but they couldn’t test Leek goalkeeper Danny Roberts.
Meanwhile, for Leek, their best chance fell on 12 minutes, and it really should have been the opening goal of the game. A mistake by one of the Stoke midfielders allowed Tomlinson to race away, he saw his shot blocked by goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who impressed at Hanley Town last season during their FA Cup run, and with Rob Stevenson lurking Josh Bickerton had to put the ball out for a corner.
The opening goal of the game came 10 minutes later when a through ball wasn’t dealt with properly by Roberts and Reddin nipped in to steal the ball off him before rounding the Leek goalkeeper to slot into the back of the empty net.
That goal sparked Leek into life as they had several chances the pull level. Will Saxon went closest when he headed wide after Stevenson did well to beat the defender and cross the ball in.
Meanwhile, Grocott should have equalised five minutes before the half-time break. Saxon went on one of his surging runs down the wing before crossing the ball to the edge of the area toward Stevenson, who expertly dummied the ball to his captain Grocott who sent his shot goalwards. However, with many of the 551 fans inside Harrison Park expecting it to hit the back of the net, it went just wide of the post.
The half ended on a sour note for Leek as moments before the half-time whistle new signing Tomlinson, who had impressed throughout the first half, injured himself as he jumped to win the ball, it meant that his afternoon had to come to a premature end as he had to be brought off for fellow new signing Malbon.
At the interval Stoke made several changes replacing players such as Simkin, Josh Rodney, Sonny Singh and Bickerton with the likes of Blondy Nna Noukeu and Will Smith as well as several trialists.
Those changes certainly disrupted the flow of the game from a Stoke perspective as the Blues saw more of the ball in the second 45 minutes. They also created two golden opportunities to equalise as first Malbon tried to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle but saw Nna Noukeu block his effort while Stevenson volleyed over from just inside the area.
You must give Stevenson credit for his performance during the 70 minutes he was on the pitch. The 2021/22 season was a disappointing one for him as he suffered two frustrating injuries. However, you could see that the winger has worked hard throughout the close season to get himself fit and ready for the new season and it certainly showed during the afternoon, and he should be pleased with his performance.
Despite all of Leek’s pressure in the second half a justified equaliser wasn’t forthcoming, and the visitors stole a second goal on 90 minutes when they were able to clear a Leek corner, Lowe won the ball ahead of Grocott on the halfway line before advancing on the Leek goal and despite Robert’s best efforts the young forward was able to slip the ball past him and into the back of the net.
It’s certainly not what Leek deserved as they had played well in the second half but, that little bit of extra fitness and know how from Stoke ultimately won them the game.
Leek are back in action next week as they play Leek CSOB in the annual Chris McMullen Memorial Trophy, while Stoke head over the border into Cheshire to face Nantwich Town.
Leek Town: Roberts, Brown (Morris, 60), Keenan, Grocott, Harrison, Ryder (Hirton, 73), Saxon (Short, 56), Reeves (Bickerton, 73), Tomlinson (Malbon, 46), Trickett-Smith and Stevenson (Davidson, 73)
Unused sub: Booth.
Stoke City under 23s: Simkin, Curl, Bickerton, Okagbue, Trialist, Rodney, Reddin, Singh, Lowe, Sy and McGuiness.
subs (all used): Trialist, Nna Noukeu, Trialist, Smith and Trialist
Attendance: 551
