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Several members of Wanderers’ first-team squad got minutes under their belt for the B Team in a 1-1 draw against Stoke City Under-18s at Clayton Wood.
Luke Southwood, Jack Iredale, George Johnston, Chris Forino, Will Forrester, Aaron Morley, Dan Nlundulu and Dion Charles were all named in the starting line-up, looking to build sharpness ahead of the new League One season.
Charles opened the scoring in the first half but Stoke got back on level terms after a host of substitutions.
The Whites started brightly and nearly took the lead when Johnston volleyed just wide after a dangerous set piece from Morley.
Josh Bickerton curled an effort wide of Southwood’s far post at the other end following another dead ball scenario.
Wanderers went in front when Charles smashed home from the penalty spot after Johnston had been brought down inside the area.
Nlundulu almost had a chance to double the lead but was denied by a vital challenge by Luke Badley-Morgan.
Stoke grew into the game and came close to an equaliser several minutes before the break when Dean Adekoya flashed a header wide from Chinonso Chibueze’s cross.
Iredale, Forino and Charles made way at half time, while Johnston, Forrester and Morley got 15 more minutes on the pitch in the second half.
Stoke had more pressure after the changes and got back level when Dara McGuiness won back possession high up the pitch and found a way past Southwood with a strike that flew in off the post.
Dubem Eze nearly found a winner in the final stages after a good run but his effort was saved by Noah Cooper.
Southwood, Iredale (Conway 46), Johnston (Inwood 60), Forino (Halford 46), Forrester (Hogan 60), Matheson (Weston 72), Morley (Fleury 60), Khumbeni, Bryan (Eze 46), Nlundulu (Sharples 67); Charles (Trialist 46). Unused: Dallimore.
Stoke U18: Cooper, Bickerton (Gyimah 60), Badley-Morgan (Agina 67), Dixon, Mears (Powell 67). Gromek, Lipsuic, Chibueze (Matondo 46), Smith (Griffiths 60), Willox, Adekoya (McGuiness 60). Unused: Brooks.
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