Match Reports

League Division 1

16 Sep 2003: Stoke City 2 Wimbledon 1 Att: 12,550

LAST GASP WINNER SENDS STOKE TOP OF THE TABLE! by AndyP

It was an usual first game of the season for me as it was far removed from the usual matchday ritual of travelling down from Leeds on the Saturday with a car load of excited Stokies. Attending a Northen Soul do in darkest Brighouse on the Friday night, I headed straight from there to Stoke hoping for a decent night's kip at the parents', before appearing in the Oatcake Occassionals charity match at the Stoke Academy pitch on Saturday morning. I may have been part of the victorious team, but I was not best pleased with my own performance. I was even less impressed when the contents of a butty, so lovingly prepared by my mother, oozed out and down my brand new home shirt leaving a rather nasty stain. There was a dark cloud hanging over me despite the glorious sunshine, and I prayed that Stoke might cheer me up with a win as I took to my seat at the back of the Boothen next to the Kenilworth Stokies.

It was my first chance to see Stoke's new signings first-hand, and Tony Pulis decided to stick to the same side that did so well at Derby on the opening day, except Ed De Goey was left out in favour of Neil Cutler between the sticks. Surprisingly (but a welcome surprise) the pariah Marteinsson continued at the heart of defence, despite rumours he was soon to be leaving the club at the Directors' behest.

Wimbledon kicked off, but Stoke started as if they meant business with a very lively opening few minutes. In the first minute Eustace made a strong run down the left and delivered a decent low ball into the box which was hacked clear with Noel-Williams closing in. A minute later Asaba tried his luck from the left edge of the box but his shot flew over. On 2 minutes, a Marteinsson free-kick deep in the Stoke half was flicked on by Noel-Williams, Asaba headed it back into the path of Greenacre, but he could not connect under pressure six yards out. On 4 minutes a strong run into the box by Noel-Williams ended in a decent angled shot across the area which struck the far post, and was cleared for a corner, which resulted in a header wide from Thomas. On 9 minutes Russell had got forward and he tried a hard low drive from the edge of the box, and Don's keeper Banks had to get down smartly to turn it round for a corner, which he successfully claimed. Russell was involved again on 12 minutes when his deep cross from the right wing was headed over by Noel-Williams.

After 15 minutes Wimbledon had their first pressure on the Stoke goal. A free-kick given in their favour some 25 yards out was nicely worked but cleared without a dangerous shot being struck. In the eventual scramble Stoke conceded a corner, which was well worked clear by Greenacre, and when the ball came back into the Stoke box, the flag went up for offside. Stoke had a corner themselves on 21 minutes, taken short from the left side, a cross came in, Noel-Williams knocked it down to Asaba, and his shot was blocked and scrambled away. But moments later Stoke were celebrating a goal. Russell made a powerful run into the box and was upended, and to my surprise the referee made the correct decision and pointed to the spot. After about 2 minutes of lecturing from the ref and faffing about from the Dons, Asaba stepped up and blasted a fine penalty into the roof of the net to give the Potters a much deserved lead.

Wimbledon had a glorious chance to equalise 6 minutes later, when a vicious cross from the right eluded the lunges of Stoke defenders and sat perfectly for Reo-Coker to slot home from 6 yards, but he thrashed it wildly over the bar when it seemed easier to score. On 32 minutes a decent Stoke free-kick led to a shot from Andrews which was blocked for a fruitless corner. On 34 minutes Andrews made a surging run on to a sublime pass and slipped in Noel-Williams who forced Banks to smother bravely at his feet 10 yards out. After 36 minutes, in a rare excursion into Stoke territory, Wimbledon's Agyemang tried his luck from very long range but it flew harmlessly over. A minute later Stoke crafted a good move which was ended with a foul on Clarke. The captain picked himself up and delivered a free-kick from the left which was headed over by Thomas. The defender was in the action again on 39 minutes when he headed a cross from a corner straight at Banks from 8 yards. Eustace shot over from range on 40 minutes after a fine pass from Andrews and good work from Noel-Williams. Stoke endured a couple of long-distance shots from the Dons but safely saw it to half-time, well deserving their lead after a hard working first half. HT 1-0

One thing that really annoys me about Tony Pulis is his ludicrious kick-off routine. We line up several tall players on the left hand side, then as they hurtle down the wing the centre is hoofed in their general direction, although it usually results in a throw-in or the opposition collecting the ball. It is counter-productive, and fruitless. It resembles more a of a kick-off seen in Rugby Union, and hands the initiative to the other team, instead of us keeping possession and creating some early pressure by passing the ball around. Needless to say the Rugby kickoff started the second half, Wimbledon won the ball, and in the first minute earned a freekick which Cutler had to smartly smother following a low drive from distance. Stoke were on the attack on 48 minutes when Russell got in a cross from the right, and Asaba almost got in a header but was policed by two defenders who managed to clear. A minute later Noel-Williams took a long ball cleverly on the chest inside the area, but he shot wildly over. On 53 minutes the big forward was involved again battling away to earn a corner. His efforts were not rewarded as the set-piece eluded everyone and Thomas' cross box in was cleared. After 55 minutes Noel-Williams perfect flick-on fell into the path of the onrushing Andrews but his 14 yard shot under pressure was straight at Banks and weak enough to allow him to smother.

Seconds later Stoke were punished for this miss as Reo-Coker opened up the Potter's defence with a fine pass that Agyemang sped on to, and he slotted past the advancing Cutler to level the scores. (Once again the ridiculous Stoke kick-off routine reared it's head!) The goal was against the run of play, but for a while it unnerved Stoke and Wimbledon started to look more menacing. Marteinsson headed a corner straight at Banks around the hour mark but it took a great save from Cutler two minutes later to stop Wimbledon doubling their tally after some good approach play. Stoke were beginning to run out of ideas other than lump it forward to Noel-Williams at every opportunity, so it was welcome sight on 65 minutes to see a positive substitution, as the creative Commons was brought on in place of Greenacre. Around the 70 minutes mark Stoke had a good period of pressure, with Asaba's left side cross narrowly missing Commons at the near post, and Noel-Williams in the middle, and finally Russell got a shot away from just outside the area that skimmed wide. Tension was building and Asaba and Reo-Coker were booked on 72 minutes for a spot of handbags at ten paces! On 75 minutes Banks saved superbly from a Commons cross the box drive, and the rebound was missed by Noel-Williams, and Russell, before Commons was felled, but there was no chance of the ref pointing to the spot again.

With ten minutes of normal time to play, Stoke forced 3 successive corners, the final one a disappointing waste. On 84 minutes Noel-Williams and Commons linked well allowing Commons to run at the defence, slip the ball out to Clarke on the overlap, but the Irishman could only manage a poor final ball as it skewed behind the goal, missing any intended recipients. Marteinsson was replaced by Goodfellow a minute later, as Pulis tried one last push to snatch a winner. Frustratingly in the final stages both Commons and Goodfellow found themselves in acres of space down the channels, but still Stoke preferred to knock hopeful balls into the centre to Noel-Williams. Just after Goodfellow came on, Eustace tested Banks with a shot from the edge of the area, then on 87 minutes Asaba flicked the ball into the path of Noel-Williams who got the ball stuck under his feet when he looked certain to score from about 6 yards. On 89 minutes Eustace played a fine through-ball for Commons to run into the box on to, and while he looked to be bundled down as he shaped to shoot, once again the ref was unwilling to award a second penalty.

By now it was into the 3 minutes of stoppage time, and it looked liked Stoke were going to have to settle for a point when a Commons free-kick was met by a fine Eustace header which Banks miraculously pushed on to the bar and it was cleared out for a throw. The Stoke players had their heads in their hands after that save, but to their credit still did not give up. With a minute of stoppage time left a throw was swung in, Asaba flicked on, a clearance was missed, and Noel-Williams nodded it goalwards where Thomas stooped to head home from about 2 yards! The ground errupted, and Stoke were able to see out the final minute of added time to record a deserved victory which takes them top of the table after two matches!

Team Marks: (3-4-3 formation)

GK Cutler (7) Not much to do. One moment of dithering cost us a corner, but a superb save at a vital part of the game prevented the Dons taking the lead

RCB Thomas (8) Soild at the back and a menace when he got up for corners. A winning goal too!

LCB Hall (7) A good display

CB Marteinsson (7) Cool and calm at the back, sweeping up any trouble. Some fine long balls out of defence with precison to pick out Noel-Williams. I hope he stays at Stoke. To lose him would be a crime.

RM Russell (8) Always a handful, earned us a penalty. Good on the ball and eager to run at the defence.

RCM Eustace (7) All over the pitch, a few shots, some good passing, but wasted some corners. Unlucky not to score but for Banks' wonder save.

LCM Andrews (7) Powerful force in midfield with some good runs and fine passes. Let down by shooting.

LM Clarke (6) Some disappointing distribution with final balls, and still insists on marking his man from 15 yards away!

RCF Greenacre (6) Some decent touches and lots of running. Unable to work his way into many chances.

CF Noel-Williams (8) Held the ball up well and brought players into the game cleverly. Lots of running and chasing. A real handful. Finishing let him down at times. [STARMAN]

LCF Asaba (7) Fine penalty. Worked hard up front, peeling off left to supply crosses sometimes. A couple of great headers into the path of on-rushing players

SUBS

Commons (7) Gave us something different and made a nuisance of himself. Hit a fine shot that was wonderfully saved by Banks, and was unlucky not to win us a penalty. Fine cross for Eustace's header.

Goodfellow (5) Came on at the end and stood on the right wing out of the game. Can't remember him touching the ball

Conclusion

A hard-working, well-organised, and determined display from Stoke which brought a deserved victory... It was however a tad one dimensional. Everything seemed to go through Noel-Williams who to be fair did hold the ball up well and bring players in. But we lacked real width, and the creativity wasn't there really. We did make 9 chances on target but we were wasteful at set-pieces, and rather predictable in our approach, opting for a more direct style. We certainly were hard to break down, but I wonder how we will fair when faced by superior teams. It wasn't always the prettiest thing to watch, but it seemed effective. But despite the win and three very welcome points, instead of wandering off delighted with the result I came away inexplicably subdued. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe this season we are going to have to take pleasure in the results, rather than in the way they are achieved.

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