City Under 18's heavy recent schedule caught up with them as they were heavily defeated by table toppers Manchester United at Clayton Woods.
The game was devoid of much goalmouth action but lethal finishing saw the Red Devils easily walk out winners. First half strikes from Nick Ajose and £2m French Under 21 international Paul Pogba, with the scoring finished late on by John Cofie.
The Potters were without key men Rodney McDonald, Louis Moult and Andy Nicholls and struggled to create any chances in the opening hour whereas it took the visitors less than ninety seconds to break the deadlock as Ajose jinked past Hedley before firing towards goal from 10 yards. Keeper David Parton was well placed but a deflection off Craig Sinclair took the ball away from the stopper and into the net.
The next opportunity arrived on seventeen minutes when a through ball to Ajose, who looked at least two yards offside, saw the hitman bear down on goal. Parton stood tall and spread himself at the strikers feet deflecting the shot away before Hedley completed the clearance when he went in strongly to win a 50/50 for the loose ball.
The lead was doubled however a minute later with Ajose again the main man. He dribbled his way past Hedley before swinging in a cross to the far side of the area. The ball seemed to be overhit before Pogba arrived perfectly on time and volleyed the ball across goal and inside the far corner, leaving Parton with no chance.
A third nearly arrived on thirty five minutes when a low drive from distance sneaked under the body of Parton, but the keeper recovered enough to pounce on the ball just as it squirmed onto the line.
City improved after the break and on the hour mark threatened the visitors goal for the first time as, following good football in the final third, Ryan Connor beat two men before unleashing a fantastic curling effort from 25 yards. The ball seemed destined for the corner of the net before keeper Johnstone flung himself towards it and tipped it round the post.
Parton was back in action on 71 minutes when he dropped quickly to smother a well hit shot from winger Cole before a quick counter ended with Adam Vickers shot held by Johnstone in the opposite goal.
The Potters were on top and nearly set up a grandstand finish with minutes left when Connor weaved his way through a packed midfield before spreading the play to Urwin. The winger played the ball to Mitchell who drove past his marker and put in a dangerous ball across the 6-yard box. Just as Connor looked to tap in from four yards a lunge from the full back saw the ball cleared back to Urwin. The Etruria born wideman picked out Alexander on the edge of the box but his effort was skied well over the bar.
The game was up though on 89 minutes as a free kick from the wing, taken by Rhys Brown, cousin of Manchester United first teamer Wes Brown, was flicked on at the near post by Cofie. Parton had no time to react and the ball nestled in the net to kill the game although their was time for Parton to be needed once more and save a low effort.