Richard Dryden's reserves side were knocked out at the semi final stage of the Final Third Development cup after a defeat to a Stoke City side featuring Scotland international Charlie Adam....
It was Stoke who had the best of the first half, the hosts netting twice in seven minutes to go into the break 2-0 up.However, Notts rallied in the second half and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty for what looked to be a clear handball, before Genaro Snijders halved the deficit.
However the visitors couldn't find the equaliser they were searching for, the Premier League reserve side seeing out a nervy 23 minutes, in which Colby Bishop hit the post, to claim a place in the final.
Dryden's side had the first attempt at goal of the match, but Filip Valencic couldn't get a clean connection on his strike from 20 yards and Daniel Bachmann gathered with ease.
Scot Bennett did well to react to Ollie Sheldon's driven effort at the back post, following a pull back from the lively Mohamed El Ouariachi, the defender staying big to block the driven attempt.
The home side had grown into the half and Kevin Pilkington was called into action, Charlie Adam striking a loose ball towards goal, but the keeper was alert to get a strong hand to the shot and tip it onto the bar.
However, there was nothing the veteran keeper could do on 15 minutes as The Potters took the lead. Charlie Adam's swinging free kick was nodded back across goal to Mason Watkins-Clark who finished at the back post.
The home side doubled their lead seven minutes later, Ouariachi's cross from the left was met by Dominic Telford at the back post who headed low into the bottom right corner.
Charlie Adam almost presented the home side with a third soon after, Telford this time unable to finish at the back post as he side footed his effort just wide.
Notts had struggled to gain a foothold in the game in the first half, but came out strong in the second half.
Ten minutes into the second period the visitors felt they should have had a penalty, Johnville Pringle appearing to handle in the box with Genaro Snijders lurking behind him, the referee unmoved by the strong appeals.
Graham Burke drove a volley just wide on the hour mark, before Shenton should have finished the game off for City. The ball fell to him unmarked six yards out, and with time to take two touches before finishing the striker couldn't beat Mawouna Amevor on the line who cleared away for a corner.
Three minutes later and Notts punished Shenton's miss. A cross from the left found it's way to Snijders at the back post who controlled before lashing the ball past Bachmann and into the far corner.
It was nothing more than Notts had deserved for the second half performance, and they almost equalised with 20 minutes left ton the clock. Kyle De Silva won a header from Burke's corner, Bachmann spilling the ball behind him, but the keeper recovered quickly to claim the ball on the goal line.
Bachmann again was at fault in the closing stages, failing to claim a corner, dropping the ball onto the goal line but Colby Bishop was unable to force it into the net.
Bishop was searching for the equaliser and came closest to finding it with four minutes left. Rhys Sharpe, who was captaining the team, sent in a low cross which a sliding Bishop met, the ball ricocheting off the outside of the post and going behind for a goal kick.
Despite a succession of corners as the game entered stoppage time, Notts couldn't find the equaliser and Stoke saw out three minutes of added time to claim a spot in the final.