Stoke Away Won 0 – 2
After going two games undefeated, Tonda stuck with a back four defence at Stoke, but no berths for Matsuki (Fellows back) and Armstrong (believed to be house-hunting in the Midlands, so replaced by Stewart). Both sides started brightly but it was Saints who took an early lead after Harwood-Bellis found Fellows with a ball inside the full back and Azaz had no problem converting a good low cross – happily no VAR to investigate a close offside call. Stoke hit back but found it difficult to get near to Peretz, other than a long-range shot by Jun-Ho. When the visitors began to consolidate again, they began to threaten as well and Azaz felt hard done by when cautioned for simulation; as always happens in such cases, rumours began to circulate that TV showed it was a nailed-on penalty… it wasn’t. The home side were rather outplayed in the opening half so made a triple substitution at the break; Saints did not respond, and there was no perceivable extra threat from the Potters. Instead we doubled our lead on 52 minutes when Stephens touched on a corner to give Downes a golden chance at the far post, a chance initially fluffed but Downes was able to force the ball over the line with an improvised second effort. Jun-Ho had had an opportunity on the stroke of half time, but between then and 82 minutes, Peretz was hardly troubled as Stoke continually managed to over-hit their forward passes. In that 82nd minute, though, City almost found their way back into the game with a well-executed first-time effort from half-time sub Seko that hit the foot of the post. The fragile Stewart wasn’t risked for more than five minutes past the hour, and with Armstrong and Archer looking for deadline day deals, we were left with Oyekunle to lead the attack; at least it wasn’t Donkey Downs, but the game looked beyond the young man, although he worked hard to hassle home defenders. In the end, a largely untroubled win against a side who, somehow, remain above us in the table; they clearly missed star man Manhoef, and even loanee Gavin Bazunu.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
4. Flynn Downes with a goal to go with a dominating performance in the midfield.
14. James Bree who seems to have shut the door on Jelert and Roerselv.
34. Welington Santos. The better of our full backs going forward and only troubled late on by Fawunmi off the bench.
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