STOKE have offered two-year apprenticeships to versatile midfielders Michael Clarkson and Lucas Dawson.

Clarkson, from Crewe, and Dawson, from Kidsgrove, have both progressed through the club's academy.

Clarkson was one of two under-16 players in a Stoke team beating Wolves 1-0 with an injury-time winner in their latest Premier Academy League outing.

Stoke's victory, courtesy of a Dave Parton penalty save and that late strike from Adam Vickers, lifts City clear of the bottom of an under-18s league table currently headed by Manchester United.

Stoke youth team manager Adrian Pennock said: "Considering Wolves were a big, strong team with three over-age players and two second-year professionals, this was a really fine result.

"The first half was pretty even, but the second half saw them the more dominant.

"They won a penalty that looked harsh because I don't think our keeper touched their lad, but Dave saved the penalty anyway.

"Wolves should have had a penalty later in the second half when Alex Headley swung his boot and caught their man instead of the ball.

"I've never seen a more obvious penalty, but perhaps the ref didn't give that one because the first one was so dubious.

"We were having to rely on the break in the second half and that's how the goal came about.

"Cameron Mitchell, Danny Stockhall and Ryan Connor were all involved before Adam stuck it away in a goalmouth scramble in about the 93rd minute.

"We've played better and lost, but it was still a result we deserved on effort alone."

Pennock will oversee a youth team line-up in tonight's reserve game at Chelsea before returning to Premier Academy League action at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

MICHAEL Koral and Jason Oswell were on target for Crewe's Academy team as they drew 2-2 with leaders Manchester United at the Reds' Carrington training ground.