Ollie Jepson scored a goal of the season contender as Kidsgrove Athletic almost mounted an unbelievable comeback as they came up just short against Stoke City under 23s in the Staffordshire FA Senior Cup Quarter-final losing 3-2.

Jepson lobbed the Potters goalkeeper Blondy Nna Noukeu from 25-yards outs before James Butler was able to get on the end of a goalmouth scramble with just two minutes to go to make things interesting. However, a brace from Gabrial Kyeremateng and a penalty from James Jennings had put the Potters 3-0 ahead.

It was Jepson who had the first chance of the game in the opening minute when his shot was deflected off a defender for a corner. From the resulting set-piece, Butler headed just wide of the goal.

While at the other end Jennings, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Kidsgrove, saw an acrobatic effort fly just over Kieran Harrison's goal.

The visitors opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Tre Pemberton did well to get down the byline before pulling the ball back to Kyeremateng who was able to poke the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Richard Duffy had to be on hand just before the interval to clear the ball off the line after Stoke's captain Jake Dunwoody was able to break through the middle of the park and get around Harrison.

Duffy went very close to getting an equaliser for the Grove straight after the restart when he diverted Lee Williamson's free-kick just inches wide of the post. It would have been a great start to the second half for the Grove had the former Port Vale man got on the scoresheet.

However, the Potters doubled their lead on 56 minutes when Kyeremateng saw a shot deflect up and over Harrison. With many in the ground thinking the ball had gone out for a corner. The referee awarded the goal instead to put Stoke in the driving seat.

The young Potters extended their lead just after the hour mark when Morris fouled Jennings inside the penalty area. Jennings dusted himself off before slotting the ball past Harrison who had dived the right way in an attempt to save the spot kick.

Despite being 3-0 down the Grove didn't give up in trying to rescue the game and they got one back through Jepson who had spotted Nna Noukeu off his line and tried a lob from 25-yards out which flew straight into the back on the net, a stunning goal from the makeshift forward who now has three goals for the season.

The last five minutes of the game were made interesting as the Grove scored a second goal from a goalmouth scramble which Butler seemed to have got the final touch to it and, it was game on again as Kidsgrove went looking for an equaliser.

Austin's men almost pulled off the comeback in injury time when substitute Rumenio saw his spectacular overhead kick saved by Nna Noukeu and with that saw Kidsgrove bow out of the Staffordshire Senior Cup at the Quarter-final stage.

Kidsgrove Athletic: Harrison, Blake, Morris, Hall (Rumenio, 65), Duffy, Butler, France, Williamson, Griffiths, Jepson (Chesters, 78) and Boula (Thompson, 78)
Unused sub: Wiggins-Thomas.

Stoke City: Nna Noukeu, Pemberton, Kigbu, Wara, Forrester, McJannet (Nixon, 66), Jennings, Malone, Kyeremateng (Taylor, 90), Dundwood and Varine.
Unused subs: Nash, Cooper and Sanali.

Attendance: 251