DUDLEY 3 LUFFS 2 (25/1/03) TOO MANY enforced changes and a playing surface which would have caused the cancellation of the Horse of the Year show saw the Luffs impressive run of wins come to an end but they certainly gave the league leaders Dudley a run for their money and deserved to come away from the Black Country with at least a point. The first half belonged to Dudley, they attacked with speed and a familiarity of the difficult surface and at times Loughborough were really struggling to contain the home side and 'keeper Keeling made a series of very good saves. Dudley's Willet thought he had scored but Keeling reacted remarkable quickly to palm the ball round the post from close range and then very nearly got caught out clearing a back pass, it certainly wasn't a pitch for passing back to the keeper. Ben Boyce was first to show running from defence all the way into the Dudley penalty area foiled only by a timely tackle as he shaped to shoot. Loughborough were given another problem as midfielder Steve Mould limped off after fifteen minutes to be replaced by Steve Davey. The Luffs looked uneasy at the back after several weeks of developing a good passing style of play they were suddenly confronted with a pitch that wouldn't let them and keeper Keeling was given an awful lot to do in the first half hour. Having coped one way or another with what Dudley could throw at them Loughborough should have taken the lead as Gunn provided the cross and Dutfield shot over from close range. It was Dudley who eventually took the lead, a low cross and Millington was waiting at the back post to tap in. The second goal wasn't long coming either as Loughborough lost the plot and another cross hung about too long and this time Winsper scored from close range to make it two-none at half time. Manager Simon Tebbutt was not impressed, he read the riot act at the break and brought himself on to steady the defence and it did the job, Dudley didn't know what hit them in the second half. A half chance fell to Dabney and a penalty appeal was turned down as The Luffs turned up the heat. As if to remind the Loughborough side who it was that was top of the league and winning this one by two goals, Dudley hit the bar and Keeling gathered the loose ball quickly. The Loughborough side got some good service from the right flank with Moult delivering a series of telling crosses and Gunn headed just wide from one of these. Gunn set up his striking partner Dabney but his shot rose over the bar but the pressure was on Dudley and when the ball fell to the feet of Boyce he rattled one in to make it two one and a lot more interesting. Loughborough were looking good to take something from this game as Dudley broke down the other end and Mole hit a low shot to make it three one. The Luffs were soon back at them and Gunn saw his shot cleared off the line but when Moult delivered the deep cross Dabney headed Loughborough's second goal and again the cat was amongst the pigeons. Dudley had had enough and were looking for the final whistle with their narrow lead still intact and each time the ball was hoisted into their area there was a sense of panic amongst the Black Country men. In the dying minutes Fairey turned and whacked the ball against the bar from a corner but Dudley survived by the skin of their teeth. The Luffs drop a place in the league to seventh and meet Burntwood Town at home at the later kick off time of 2.45pm TEAM:  Richard KEELING, Matt WATKISS, Ian STEVENSON, Carl SPRINGTHORPE, Ben BOYCE, Nick FAIREY, Steve MOULD, Neil DUTFIELD, Steve MOULT, Paul GUNN, Mark DABNEY  SUBS:  Steve DAVEY, Gareth ROGERS, Simon TEBBUTT SCORERS:  Ben BOYCE, Mark DABNEY ATT: NA HT: 2-0