Stourbridge 3, Ilkeston 3

LATE heartbreak meant rejuvenated Stourbridge had to settle for a point against promotion chasing Ilkeston at Amblecote tonight.

A breathless encounter had seen the Glassboys 3-1 ahead and with a man advantage with just over ten minutes remaining. But the visitors hit back in devastating fashion to snatch a share of the spoils in injury time.

However, there were far more positives than negatives to take from a thrilling performance from Gary Hackett's men, who included debutant wide man Matt Dodd in their line-up.

Dodd and Chris Lait on the opposite flank were shining lights in a brilliant first half performance from the Glassboys.

Stour started strongly and worked three early chances thanks to the lively Kayelden Brown.

The best opportunity of the three saw the forward fire straight at Ilkeston keeper Jordan Smith in the 15th minute after good work out wide by Lait.

Despite the fact Ilkeston never really got going in the first half they did create one gilt edged opportunity when Burgess could only side foot past the post from about eight yards out after Williams had set him up.

The Glassboys got the reward they deserved when Lait broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.

Smith could only spill a low Smikle drive into the winger's path and he gratefully bundled the ball into the net.

The home side then doubled their advantage to take a 2-0 lead into the break when Dodd converted from the spot in stoppage time during the first period.

The penalty came after the referee adjudged that Luke Benbow had been fouled by Burgess after Broadhurst had floated a ball to the far post.

Burgess did have his arms around the striker but Benbow didn't need asking twice to go to ground.

The passage of play that led to the goal would prove crucial later in the contest. Dodd had picked up the ball before being body checked by Jack Lane to give the home side the chance to whip the ball in the box as time ran out.

Lane was booked for the offence and would later get his marching orders for a tough tackle on Lait in the second half.

Ilkeston came out firing in the second period thanks mainly to the brilliant debut impact of substitute Jack Sowerby.

It was the lively forward that won the visitors a way back into the game.

His quick feet just inside the box saw him brought down by Josh Quaynor after just five minutes of the second half.

Rob Duffy stepped up to make no mistake from the spot.

What followed was an end-to-end affair as both sides went in search of more goals.

Sowerby perhaps spurned the best chance of the game as he fired powerfully against the post from close range after Duffy had headed the ball back across goal in the 56th minute.

It didn't take long for Stour to punish his miss. Brown slotted in after Conolly's cross from the right found its way to the far post just past the hour mark.

Both sides swapped chances befrore Lane picked up his second booking in the 68th minute.

With a two goal advantage and an extra man, it looked like Stour were in the driving seat to record rare back-to-back victories.

However, when Williams fired under Solly after a Burgess pull back in the 78th minute, it was clear the title chasers had plenty of fight left in them.

Callum Chettle confirmed this in the second minute of injury time as he fired a loose ball into the corner from just inside the box.

The Stourbridge management team were convinced they saw a handball in the build up and were left furious with the officials.

However, in truth, there was a long way to goal from the incident and more than one opportunity to nullify the danger.

The result was harsh on the Glassboys but the performance demonstrated some real signs of a revival at the Memorial Ground. The game also gave hope that the club's poor run of form since the turn of the year could soon be at an end.

The sublime debut of Matt Dodd on the right and the first half showing of Lait gives Stour a real threat in the final third and more than one reason for optimism as we approach the run in.

Stourbridge: Solly, Smikle, Quaynor, Brown (Morgan-Parker 75), Canavan, Richards, Connolly, Broadhurst (c), Benbow, Lait, Dodd.

Unused subs: Tye, Williams, Miles, Hill.

Ilkeston: Smith, Burgess, Reid (Samba 82), Gorman, Maguire (c), Lane, Morgan, Chettle, Duffy, Wright (Sowerby 45), Williams.

Unused subs: Baker, Gordon, Simons.

Att: 252.