- Forest Women return to winning ways
- Rachel Brown's goal earns Reds three points
Head Coach Andy Cook made three changes to the side which lost to Huddersfield Town, with Olivia Cook, Charlotte Greengrass and Naomi Powell replacing Mai Moncaster, Niamh Reynolds and Hayley James.
The Reds started strongly as Rachel Brown saw a shot deflect behind for a corner in the opening stages, with Georgia Hewitt's low cross also being snuffed out.
Brown raced onto Charlotte Steggles' long ball in the 23rd minute before colliding with Stoke's goalkeeper. Both players were thankfully able to continue after a clash of heads.
Stoke tried their luck from distance but Emily Batty dealt well with an effort, before the biggest chance of the half fell Forest's way on the stroke of the interval.
Steggles picked out Powell with a ball over the top, with the forward pulling the ball back for Brown who saw an effort cleared off the line. On the rebound, Becky Anderson was also unable to hit the target.
HALF-TIME: Stoke City FC Women 0-0 Forest Women
The Reds continued to search for the game's goal, with Georgia Hewitt shooting high and wide inside four minutes of the second half.
In the 53rd minute, Forest took a deserved lead and made it 1-0 courtesy of Brown. Greengrass skipped past her marker and raced into the box before pulling the ball back for Brown who calmly finished inside the area.
Forest pressed for a second goal, as substitute Grace Walters' cross from the right was touched down by Powell into Amy West's path, with the midfielder arrowing an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Walters shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the area soon after, and Rosie Axten miscued her effort from Powell's low cross.
In the 66th minute, Jade Arber was introduced from the bench to make her first appearance since October following a lengthy injury lay-off.
On 86 minutes, substitute Mai Moncaster forced a fine save out of the Stoke goalkeeper.
The Reds held onto their lead, marking a return to winning ways in the National League Northern Premier.
FULL-TIME: Stoke City FC Women 0-1 Forest Women
TEAM NEWS
Starting XI: Emily Batty, Georgia Hewitt (Sophia Bonser 78'), Charlotte Steggles, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Greengrass (Grace Walters 53'), Amy West, Becky Anderson, Rachel Brown (Jade Arber 66'), Naomi Powell (Niamh Reynolds 66'), Rosie Axten (Mai Moncaster 78')