Both sides had good opportunities in the opening half-an-hour, with Noel-Williams and Thorne both going close at either end, but the game really came to life in a six minute spell, starting with Peter Thorne's opener on 34 minutes.

Richard Langley's corner was only half cleared, and Peter Thorne made no mistake with a low drive after John Robinson's effort had been diverted into his path.

Stoke's heads didn't drop though, and the Potters were level only 6 minutes after Thorne's strike. John Eustace did well to convert a Noel-Williams cross from the edge of the 6-yard box, sending the home crowd at the Britannia Stadium into delight.

However, the crowd were silenced except the away following from South Wales, as an inspired Peter Thorne put the ball past former Chelsea star Ed De Goey to restore Cardiff's lead. The £1.7million record purchase scored in traditional Thorne style with a powerful header from John Robinson's pass.

Thorne completed an impressive hat-trick eighteen minutes from time. Again with a trademark header, this time supplied by Gary Croft, who was once again impressive on the right side of defence. Cardiff were pegged back once again though, with substitute Ade Akinbiyi calmly slotting past Neil Alexander to keep the hosts hopes alive.

Stoke pressed forward in the closing stages, desperate to get an equaliser, but City held strong for a valuable three points. The result lifts City to 7th in the First Division table, and victory on Tuesday night against Preston North End could take the Bluebirds as high as an incredible 4th. However, it will be a tough game, with Preston currently sitting in 10th, and they have clear play-off ambitions this season.

In a game where Robert Earnshaw, eventually substituted, proved very ineffective, Peter Thorne rose to the occasion on his return to the Britannia Stadium. With Alan Lee due back to full fitness in the New Year, and Gavin Gordon and Andrew Campbell hoping to stay in contention, Thorne's performance will have been a massive boost to his confidence and his chances of become City's regular partner for Earnshaw.

Thorne's excellent solo performance was applauded by many of the Stoke City faithful. Thorne was a committed club servant to Stoke, netting over 80 goals for the Potters, and it was nice to see them showing a different reception to the one Graham Kavanagh normally gets against his former-club!

Bluebird to the Bone Man of the Match - Peter Thorne
Who else? City's record signing put in an excellent display, hitting the next three times to secure his first match ball since signing for Cardiff City. The man's magic!

Stoke City: De Goey, Richardson, Halls, Thomas, Clarke, Russell, Eustace, Johnson, Hoekstra, Asaba, Noel-Williams.
Subs: Cutler, Akinbiyi, Marcus Hall, Greenacre, Commons.

Cardiff City: Alexander, Croft, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Robinson, Boland, Langley, Gray, Earnshaw, Thorne.
Subs: Prior, Gordon, Bonner, Campbell, Margetson.

Referee: A Leake (Lancashire).

Full Time - Stoke City 2-3 Cardiff City
Attendance - 12,208

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