Sometimes teams realise that a performance deserves a response and Stoke provided the perfect reply to their previous week's disappointment by putting their opponents to the sword in this 3rd v 4th placed battle. With Richard Hancox returning from injury and Ian Mayer making his starting debut Stoke added the experience that had perhaps previously been missing and how their presence paid dividends. Out of the blocks quickly and soon on top of their opponents the first goal came as early as the eighth minute when an inswinging Liam Collings corner from the left saw Mayer evade his marker and power home a near post header from six yards. The second followed on 25 minutes when a Ty Hawken headed flick went wide but Kev Wills' persistence was rewarded as he reached the ball before the Spurs keeper on the edge of the six yard box and a quick return cross saw Hawken head home from close range. Wills was again the tormentor on 32 minutes when his run down the right channel led to a cross which hit a visiting hand for a penalty from which Hawken sent the keeper the right way for a comfortable save. However, the pacey striker made amends five minutes later as Wills was again the provider with a cross from the right channel which was side footed home from five yards. A minute later Hawken outpaced the visiting defence only to be brought down for a second Stoke penalty which Hancox dispatched into the top corner. Stoke went nap a minute before half time when a high clearance was controlled by WIlls on the volley in the Spurs eighteen yard box for Lewis Robinson to drive home before the ball could hit the ground or Wills could have a second touch. The crowd were purring at the break safe in the knowledge that this lead could not be surrendered. Emerging for the second period, Stoke seemed to have lost their way as is often the case with such a dominant first half and the visitors enjoyed a short period of territorial advantage without forcing a save from Mark Coombe in the home goal whose biggest scare came from a 20 yard shot on the hour which hit Mayer and slowly rolled agonisingly inches wide watched by a wrongfooted Coombe whose pleas of "No No No" illustrated his desire for a clean sheet. The scoring was completed on 79 minutes when an Ollie Critchlow throw on the right was controlled by WIlls whose side footed pass found an advancing Andy Hawkins who shot home from 12 yards, the third player to open his scoring account on the day. It is true what they say about a week being a long time in football and this tremedous team display, clean sheet and comfortable victory against fellow challengers at the top of the league has set a standard which if added to with a consistency of performance, will make for a very promising future.