A late leveller deep into second half stoppage time denied St Ives Town more reward for a battling display away from home. 

Ives were in front until the fourth minute of added time when a first win in seven Southern League Premier Division Central games was snatched away by Stourbridge thanks to Joe Hull’s strike. 

New loan signings Ashton Fox and Luke Harris from Peterborough United came straight into the Ives’ starting line-up and had an immediate impact in raising energy levels from the previous week at Basford. 

Ricky Marheineke’s team shocked their hosts when they went in front inside the opening three minutes on March 11. 

Enoch Andoh robbed Stourbridge’s Alex Prosser deep inside his own half, before finding teammate Johnny Herd on the edge of the Glassboys’ penalty box, whose chip deceived goalkeeper Charlie Price. 

And the home crowd fell silent for a second time when Ives doubled their lead on 13 minutes. 

Kieran Higgs drove into the Stourbridge penalty area after beating his marker Lee Vaughan and picked out Jonny Edwards who scored from six yards out. 

It could have been three for the Ives if Higgs was not denied by goalkeeper Price. 

But Ives shot-stopper James Goff, who had made two smart saves, was unable to keep out Jason Cowley’s effort six minutes before half-time. 

Ives had chances to kill the game when Fox and Edwards were denied by Price. 

But a victory turned into two dropped points when substitute Darryl Knight set up defender Hull to beat Goff from 15 yards to equalise. 

Ives host Stourbridge in the reverse fixture at Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on March 18, 3pm. 

St Ives Town: Goff, Casey, Herd (sub Johnson, 88’), Richens (C), J. Williams, Fox, Andoh (sub Baker, 68’), Harris, Edwards, Higgs (sub Shariff, 78’), Toseland.  

Unused subs: Johnston, Kaziboni.