a winning team in the Auto Windscreens Shield final at Wembley Stadium yesterday when Stoke City beat Bristol City 2-1.

Lightbourne, who skipped Bermuda's World Cup match in Antigua in order to make his first appearance at Wembley, failed to get on the scoresheet as Stoke's top scorer Peter Thorne hit the 82nd minute winner.. .his 150th career goal for Stoke.

Both sets of fans paid tribute to former Stoke legend Sir Stanley Matthews before the kick-off and then it was down to business as they locked horns in front of a capacity crowd.

After dominating the early stages when Lightbourne had a good chance inside the box, Stoke were lucky not to be trailing when Peter Beadle stabbed the ball wide from close range following a cross from Scott Murray.

The height of Lightbourne and the in-form Thorne caused all sorts of problems for City's central defensive pair of Keith Millen and Andrew Jordan. On a couple of occasions in the first 15 minutes, Graham Kavanagh launched two long throws which had the Bristol City defence scrambling to get the ball clear.

After Stoke 'keeper Gavin Ward came off his line to block Aaron Brown's effort when he found himself in a one-on-one situation, Stoke went upfield and took the lead in the 32nd minute through Kavanagh.

Lightbourne's presence forced the Bristol City defence into an error as they only half-cleared and Kavanagh picked up the loose ball 25 yards out and set off on a mazy run, beating three defenders, before smashing the ball inside the near post.

City had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty in the opening seconds of the second half turned down after Scott Murray went down under a challenge from Clive Clarke.

Kyle's Wembley win From Page 13 Bristol put more passes together in the early stages of the half but the Potters still looked dangerous whenever they went forward, with Kavanagh the key playmaker.

With their former top striker, Bermudian Shaun Goater, watching from the stands, Bristol finally equalised in the 72nd minute through Paul Holland from a Brian Tinnion corner on the right.

However, it was Stoke who scored the late winner when a lapse in concentration in defence allowed Thorne to score. Stoke were awarded a foul near the left corner flag and while the culprit was still complaining to the referee, Bjarni Gudjonsson quickly took the kick, passing to Kavanagh who squared to Thorne to roll the ball into an empty net.

Bristol's defence protested furiously to referee Kevin Lynch but the goal was allowed to stand.

Goater's Manchester City team had a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Grimsby on Saturday, allowing Ipswich to move within a point of them after their 1-0 away win over Stockport. Barnsley were unlucky not to also be a point behind City, after a last minute penalty allowed Port Vale to snatch a 2-2 draw at home.

All three promotion-chasing teams have four matches remaining.