Stone certainly underestimated their oppositionon Saturday when facing the bottom of the league side Dudley II’s at the Del Stadium. It was a game of many chances but none taken by either side. Dudley were stronger than anticipated fielding the x Staffs division 1 highest goal scorer amongst their ranks Helen Yorke managed to keep Guisey mainly quiet and between them Chris Wood and Deb Bleakley managed their other skilful player who had several chances however Nat Ward chose to have her finest game of the season and rightly deserved her man of the match award from Dudley.
Up front Stone had chances and Clare Read was unlucky early on as was Sue Gallow and the youngsters of Hattie Cox and Lorna Cooper on the left post. In the game Stone were awarded 6 short corners however it was not a good injecting day and Chris Wood was only able to move the ball left or right as often the ball either failed to arrive or was inaccurate. Midway through the second half Holly Ward took a nasty strike to the back of the leg and went off injured and youngster Lorna Cooper making her debut stepped up and showed promise and commitment for the future.
As the game dwindled to a 0-0 draw Stone found that the results elsewhere in the league had not gone their way and although with far superior goal difference only one point separated 3 teams in 7th , 8th and 9th Stone must win their next match to avoid relegation.