DUDLEY are facing a massive pair of upcoming home matches after struggling on the road again at Stoke on Saturday.

Heathens’ Monmore fixtures against Belle Vue and Stoke on the next two Tuesdays have both become crucial encounters in their bid to reach the end-of-season play-offs.

They sit one place outside that zone at present having been beaten at Loomer Road, with the Potters going top of the table thanks to their victory.

As at Scunthorpe on Friday, it all went wrong for Heathens – without the injured Adam Roynon – in the early stages, with the Potters racing into a 26-10 lead despite Richard Franklin’s success in Heat 2.

When Ashley Morris went for double points in Heat 7 he was limited to four points by Jaimie Pickard, and Stoke wrapped the meeting up with two 5-1s and a 4-2 in the next two races to move 44-18 in front.

Heathens did enjoy some success in the closing stages, with skipper Jon Armstrong re-discovering his form to partner Darryl Ritchings to a big 8-1 in Heat 11.

Armstrong was victorious again in the final race with Morris defeating Pickard for a Heathens 4-2, although that wasn’t enough to stop the Potters from going through the 60-point barrier.

STOKE 61: Simon Lambert 15, James Sarjeant 12+1, Jaimie Pickard 12+1, Tony Atkin 11+2, Gareth Isherwood 7+2, Ben Reade 4+2, Tim Webster r/r.

DUDLEY 34: Jon Armstrong 14, Ashley Morris 9, Tom Perry 5, Richard Franklin 4, Darryl Ritchings 2+1, Danny Stoneman 0, Adam Roynon r/r.