The Potters continued their pre-season preparations with a six goal victory at the Lyme Valley Stadium.

After last seasons 2-1 defeat in this fixture, the first time in 28 gamesbwteeen the sides that the Potters hadn't won the traditional curtain raiser, City were determined not to go down again and after testing 'Castle keeper Matt Rhead twice through attempts from Matthew Etherington and Ricardo Fuller, with Sidibe and Fuller also going close, it was left to Rob Huth to power in the opener from a Dean Whitehead corner.

The Potters pinned the hosts back throughout the game and had several blocked shots aswell as a diving header from Michael Tonge, which was superbly tipped round the post, and efforts and Fuller and Whitehead, which the keeper did well to save to keep the score at one nil going into half time.

The second half started with a slower tempo than the first was played at and a host of substitutions around the hour mark sparked the game back into life.

Liam Lawrence, just on as sub, quickly set up the second when he chipped the ball to the back post, prefect for the incoming Fuller to beat the defender in the air and power a header into the top corner.

Substitute attackers Lawrence, Tuncay Sanli and Louis Moult were all impressive and it was seventeen year old Moult who created the third goal when, on 66 minutes, he danced through the defence before squaring into the path of Tuncay, who had a simple tap in.

Three quickly became four on 71 minutes when a long, raking ball forward from Lawrence was brought down by Tonge, who had run through the defence to get in on goal, before the ex-Sheffield United midfielder slid the ball under the advancing keeper and into the net.

The Potters were now on fire and scored a fifth when Moult again ran at the defence, beating two defenders before cutting inside, and rolling the ball into Tuncay, who again gratefully tapped in.

Moult then went close himself, shooting narrowly wide, whilst Delap, playing at right back, found himself in on goal but the keeper stood up to his effort.

The scoring was complete two minutes from time when Tuncay found himself inside the area, produced a couple of quick stepovers to round the keeper, and slotted in for his hat trick.