Leon Broadhurst, who led the teams out with his daughters to commemorate his recent 700th appearance, put Stour ahead from the penalty spot but Whitby sub Kieron Weledji grabbed his side a point after they were reduced to ten men.

Whitby raced out of the blocks and could have been ahead inside 30 seconds. Skipper Steven Snaith played John Campbell through but the striker dragged his angled effort well wide.

Stour slowly started to control the game and Paul McCone, returning after missing out at Leamington due to illness, looped a header wide from a Tom Tonks long throw.

Debutant Kaiman Anderson could have put the Glassboys ahead in the tenth minute after taking down Kyle Perry’s neat through ball but under pressure, the loanee fired his curling low effort straight at keeper Ryan Whitley.

Whitley was busy again 15 minutes later as he did well to tip over a stinging Aaron Forde effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Whitby had another good chance near the end of the first half as Stuart Pierpoint struggled with a long ball over the top but Campbell's shot on the turn was well saved by Matt Gould.

The Blues had the first chance of the second period too as Daniel McWilliams did well to find Matthew Tymon and his curling effort drifted just wide.

Stour were looking frustrated but they grabbed the opener in the 60th minute. An Anderson shot on the turn was well blocked and Leon Broadhurst then felled as he looked to get to the loose ball.

Broadhurst stepped up and Mr Reliable duly fired the spot kick down the middle to put the Glassboys ahead.

A driving run by Tonks from half-way saw him advance to the edge of the Whitby box before striking his low shot past the post.

Things went from bad to worse for Whitby in the 65th minute as Luke Bythway was shown a harsh red card for fouling Anderson just outside the right-hand edge of the penalty area.

The game was extremely scrappy following the sending off and the visitors claimed an unlikely equaliser with 11 minutes left.

Substitute Weledji outpaced McCone through the right channel area and his low shot hit Gould’s legs and looped up and into the net.

Gary Hackett’s men huffed and puffed but couldn’t break down the ten men of Whitby and had to settle for a pre-Christmas point.

The draw means Stour haven’t won in the Evo-Stik Premier since the 4-0 success at Sutton Coldfield Town on October 31st.

Stourbridge: Gould; Christophorou, McCone, Pierpoint, Westlake; Dodd (Shearer 65), Forde, Broadhurst, Tonks; Perry (Hague 73), Anderson. Subs not used: Cooke, Hague, Green, Shearer, Hall.

Attendance: 557

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

We travel to Stafford Rangers on Boxing Day, Tuesday 26th December (3.00 pm kick-off). A supporters’ coach is running and details can be found here.

We then visit Marine on Saturday 30th December (3.00 pm kick-off). Details of the coach to this match can also be found via the link above.

Our next home game is on New Year’s Day, Monday 1st January, when we will welcome Rushall Olympic (3.00 pm kick-off).

YOUTH TEAM & ACADEMY

The Youth Team have no fixture now until they travel to Stratford Town for a MFYL game on Thursday, 4th January (7.45 pm kick-off).

Our Academy team are not scheduled to play again until they host Chasetown on Wednesday, 10th January (2.00 pm kick-off).

STOURBRIDGE LADIES

The Glassgirls are also taking a Christmas and New Year break, and will return to action on Sunday, 7th January when they will entertain Rugby Town Ladies at Greenfields. Kick-off will be at 2.00 pm.

EVO-STIK PREMIER RESULTS – SATURDAY 23RD DECEMBER

Altrincham 3-0 Matlock Town
Barwell 0-4 Marine
Buxton 1-1 Stafford Rangers
Grantham Town 1-1 Ashton United
Hednesford Town 1-3 Shaw Lane
Mickleover Sports 0-1 Lancaster City
Stalybridge Celtic 1-2 Rushall Olympic
STOURBRIDGE 1-1 Whitby Town
Sutton Coldfield Town 2-6 Witton Albion
Warrington Town 1-3 Coalville Town
Workington 2-1 Nantwich Town