City EDS mount incredible four-goal comeback to beat Stoke

After a first half battle that played out in Stoke’s half for almost the full 45 minutes, the second half provided seven goals and drama galore as City staged a staggering fightback from 3-0 down.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play on 49 minutes through Thomas Midwood, who headed home at the back post.

City then had an uphill battle to climb when Louie Bradbury made it two for Stoke on 61 minutes before he bagged his second of the night from the penalty spot.

Xavier Parker’s goal with 15 left to play sparked the Blues to life. Substitute Teddie Lamb added his name to the scoresheet on 80 minutes.

Brilliant link-up play in the Stoke box saw Harrison Miles fire home a dramatic equaliser on the stroke of full-time before the dramatic tale had one final twist.

With the final attack of the game, Dexter Oliver fired home a fantastic curling effort to see City snatch a deserved win and a vital three points in the Premier League 2.

WHAT HAPPENED

In what was a blisteringly cold, blustery night at the Joie Stadium, both City and Stoke took centre stage under the lights as they battled it out to return to winning ways in the PL2.

City were patient against a deep sitting Stoke outfit and it wasn’t until the 32nd minute that the Blues had the ball in the back of the opposition’s net.

Xavier Parker’s shot deflected into the path of Kylan Midwood who pounced on the loose ball to tap home, but the referee deemed the number nine to be in an offside position.

Oliver Reiss’ side continued to probe but the score remained level at the break.

It was a quick start to the second half for the visitors as substitute Thomas Midwood headed home at the back post with what was the Potters’ first attempt on target.

Louie Bradbury then latched on to a misplaced pass at the back and fired a low effort under Max Chabot to double Stoke’s lead just after the hour before converting from the penalty spot four minutes later to make it three and seemingly put the game beyond reach.

City had other ideas however.

Quick feet from Xavier Parker inside the box saw the move end with him guiding the ball home on 75 minutes as Reiss’ side continued to fight for a way back into the game.

Parker then turned provider five minutes later. Skipper Kian Noble dinked a ball in behind to Parker who laid off the ball to Teddie Lamb to tap home.

And our boys in Blue weren’t done there. 

Harrison Miles fired home a superb equaliser with quick link-up play seeing the substitute carve out space on the edge of the Stoke box. 

With four minutes added, City threw one final effort at the visitors. 

And the youngsters’ bravery paid off as Dexter Oliver fired home after Stoke failed to clear Matty Henderson-Hall’s corner.

It saw us earn a deserved second PL2 win of the season.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Chabot, Headley, H. Parker (Drake 58’), Noble, Wilson-Esbrand (Barrett 58’), Fapetu (Miles 71’), Henderson-Hall, Gorman (Nfonkeu71’), Midwood (Lamb 58’), X. Parker, Oliver.

SUBS | Hudson, Courtman.  

STOKE XI | Knight, Iddrisa, Frost (Midwood 46’), Otegbayo, Anderson, Mears, Achu, Morrison, Walker (Bradbury 34’), Nixon, Fearn.

SUBS | Martin, Hatton, Osei, Pinder, Bardsley.  

AS A RESULT

City climb to 19th in the table with six points.

UP NEXT

It’s a quick turnaround again for Reiss’ side who now begin to prepare for our final group game of the 2026/27 EFL Trophy.

We travel to Port Vale on Tuesday 27 October, with kick-off set for 19:00 (UK).