STOKE City’s reserves failed to get their revenge against West Ham United after slipping to defeat by a single goal at Bishop’s Stortford last night.

City named the same side that were beaten 2-0 by the Hammers at Nantwich Town’s Weaver Stadium last Monday.

And perhaps the Potters were still reeling from that defeat, because the Londoners scored the game’s only goal after just two minutes.

Midfielder Daniel Kearns slotted in neatly past Stoke keeper Tom Harrison after the Hammers sliced through the visitors’ defence.

Tony Urwin tried to take the game to West Ham during the opening stages with some surging runs forward, but his attacking play fizzled out in the final third as West Ham cleared their lines with ease.

Indeed, the hosts were dominant and won a free-kick 30 yards from goal after fleet-footed midfielder Anthony Edgar had been brought down. However, Christian Montano’s effort sailed wide of the left-hand post.

City almost went two down when a floated cross eluded everyone but Nathaniel Wedderburn, who managed to clear the danger with a glancing header.

City mounted their first serious attack on 15 minutes when Urwin surged forward for Stoke, laying the ball off to Richard Vauls, who set Louis Moult free.

The striker skipped past Oliver Lee and Kearns, but Bondz N’Gala managed to clear.

Stoke began to come out of their shell by passing the ball around, but Wedderburn was caught in possession and almost gifted West Ham a goal.

Balint Bajner nicked the ball off the midfielder and only had Harrison to beat, but opted to pass to Montano instead of shooting, giving Harrison the chance to smother the ball.

West Ham won the game’s first corner when tricky striker Zavon Hines’s shot was deflected. Harrison punched Kearns’s flag-kick away, but the Irons win the ball back and force another corner but Bajner’s header is easily gathered by the goalkeeper.

Stoke won their first corner of the match with half-time approaching when Alex Hedley powered forward and found Urwin, whose shot was deflected out, but Kurucz comfortably gathered the flag-kick.

After the restart Nicholls was fouled by Hines and the Potters midfielder required treatment for a dead leg, but he quickly rejoined the action.

Brunt then went close when he burst into West Ham’s box, only to see his effort sail wide of the left-hand post.

Stoke brought on Salif Diao and Warwick Alexander in a bid to grab an equaliser, the latter almost putting Nicholls through on goal late on.

But West Ham held on to their lead to claim three points and move up to third in the Premier Reserves League South table.