Stourbridge 3 Ilkeston 3

Gary Hackett made two changes ahead of the match with debutant Matt Dodd, signed earlier in the day after parting company with Leamington recently, coming in for Josh Morgan-Parker, and a surprise return to Glassboys colours for popular goalkeeper Lewis Solly in place of Dean Coleman, due to illness.

The Glassboys began the game encouragingly against the second-placed Robins. Kayelden Brown put two early chances over the bar, and Connolly also fired over from distance, all inside the first 15 minutes, before Brown was unfortunate to see his close-range effort blocked by Jordan Smith in the visitors' goal.

Stourbridge were working hard, hassling and harrying Ilkeston at every opportunity and openings for the Robins were few and far between. They came close on 27 minutes, however, as a low left-wing cross was met at the near post by Joe Burgess, who somehow contrived to steer his effort wide of the post.

A Drew Canavan free kick from 20 yards was deflected wide off the wall after 33 minutes, but as Stourbridge continued to press, the goal that they deserved finally came after 38 minutes. Brian Smikle created a yard of space in the area and his slightly mis-hit shot appeared to deceive Smith, who spilled the ball for Chris Lait to tap in for his first goal in the red and white stripes.

The response from Ilkeston was almost immediate as Jake Wright broke into the area, but his low shot flew wide of Solly's far post.

And Stourbridge made the most of that miss by doubling their lead on the stroke of half time. Jack Lane was yellow-carded for baulking Dodd's run down the left, and from the resulting free kick, a harmless looking high ball to the far post from Luke Connolly seemed to be drifting out of play, only for Burgess to tangle with Luke Benbow. It appeared fairly innocuous but the referee felt otherwise and pointed to the spot, giving Dodd the chance to emulate Lait and open his Glassboys account.

The interval saw a change in personnel for the Robins, with Jack Sowerby introduced, and he had an instant impact, almost scoring within two minutes as he ran onto a through ball, rounded Solly and looked set to score before Leon Broadhurst got back to block on the line.

The warning bells were ringing for the Glassboys, though, and it was a mere two minutes more before the advantage was halved. Sowerby wriggled his way into the area from the left and drew a foul from Josh Quaynor, giving Rob Duffy the chance to produce an exact replica of Dodd's finish from 12 yards.

That setback might have knocked Stourbridge's confidence but to their credit the Glassboys regrouped and continued to press, Smith making a good save as Benbow got on the end of a low cross from Dodd on 53 minutes.

At the other end, Sowerby again caused problems, getting on the end of a knock-down from Duffy in the 57th minute and crashing the ball against the bar when it seemed impossible not to score.

Again the Glassboys capitalised on their escape to regain their two-goal lead. Connolly and Dodd exchanged passes down the right and Connolly sent over a cross which eluded both Smith and Lane and fell for Brown to turn in from 8 yards.

Back came the visitors within a minute, with Mike Williams hitting the inside of the post from Sowerby's cut-back, only to see the ball fly across goal and spin out for a goal-kick.

Canavan then let fly from 25 yards, clearing the bar with a bit to spare, and then Benbow saw his shot under pressure go wide of the upright, before the game appeared to take a pivotal turn in Stourbridge's favour on 68 minutes. Lane went into a challenge on Lait on half-way and the referee deemed it worthy of a second yellow card, leaving the Robins to see out the game a man light.

But the nerves were jangling ten minutes later as Williams brought the score back to 3-2, as his shot found the back of the net via a deflection.

If an Ilkeston onslaught was expected from that point, it didn't really materialise, and if anything it was the Glassboys who looked most likely to add to the scoreline. Benbow set up Connolly whose scuffed shot failed to trouble Smith, and then Dodd took aim from 10 yards as the game entered stoppage time, forcing Smith to palm the ball to safety.

But Ilkeston were to muster some pressure in the dying embers of the game, and when a cross was only half cleared the ball fell nicely for Callum Chettle to volley home from the edge of the area.

Bizarrely, to this point, the scoring pattern exactly matched that of the match between the two teams at the New manor back in August. On this occasion, though, the Robins had timed their late equaliser better, leaving no opportunity for a repeat of Chris Knight's winner that evening.

The point means that Stourbridge remain 12th in the Premier Division table.

Stourbridge: Solly, Smikle, Quaynor, Brown (Morgan-Parker 76), Canavan, Richards, Connolly, Broadhurst, Benbow, Lait, Dodd.

Unused substitutes: Tye, Williams, Miles, Hill (gk).

Attendance: 252.