While the first team were losing at Crystal Palace and the U18s going down at home to the Boro, United's U21 side completed an unhappy Saturday with their heaviest defeat of the season. 

Peter Beardsley's XI broke new ground when they faced the Potters at their adopted home of Macclesfield Town's Moss Rose and senior team duty forced the coach into making five changes. 

Stoke took a fourth minute lead when visiting 'keeper Freddie Woodman could only help Joel Taylor's left wing centre over the goal line and that advantage was doubled shortly before the interval by Marc Muniesa's close range effort following a free kick. 

Dom Telford then took advantage of a defensive mix-up in the closing moments of the second half to round off the victory.