City fielded an U18 side but went down to a single goal in the first encounter between Stoke and their American sister club Austin Aztex.
The match, played out at Nantwich Town's Weaver Stadium, saw the hosts put under severe pressure for large chunks of the games as the tourists took advantage of their superior size and experience.
The fact the Aztex had only stepped off their transatlantic flight 30 hours prior to kick off seemed to have an effect early on as the opening half hour saw few, if any, chances created. The opening opportunity did finally arrive in the thirtieth minute but Moult was denied a simple tap in when the visitors keeper leapt in front of him to claim a Hedley cross that was destined for the hitmans forehead.
That seemed to be the spark that set the game alight and former Manchester United striker Eddie Johnson went close to breaking the deadlock three times before the break as, firstly, he had a 36th minute effort ruled out for offside, was denied by a superb last ditch clearance by Hedley shortly after before Parton flung himself to his right to superbly palm a powerful effort round the post on the stroke of half time.
Parton had to be alert at the start of the second half as he was forced to dive at the feet of Alexandre to deny Johnson's strike partner. Despite all the pressure the young Potters nearly took the lead when Vickers glancing header was blocked and cleared by Evans. Slight aggrievance can be held with the fact that the free kick which Vickers got on the end of was given away by Evans with a tackle on Moult that in a competitive game would have easily seen a red card issued.
The Potters night took a turn for the worse with five minutes to go as Johnson, forever a thorn in the Potters side, rolled the ball across the 6-yard box for, yes you guessed it, Evans to stab in from close range and give the Aztex victory in the first of their three game tour.
Stoke(4-4-2): Parton; Hedley(Sinclair), Foster, Cohen, McDonald; Urwin, Nicholls(Stockhall), Connor, Lund; Moult, Alexander(Vickers)