Video: Stafford Rangers 1 Stocksbridge 1

Stafford Rangers were left to rue missed chances after they came from behind to clinch a 1-1 draw against Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Boro, runaway leaders of Evo-Stik First Division South, controlled large portions of the game and felt harshly done by when Matthew Reay put the visitors ahead.

That was for only for Christian Dacres to equalise to leave the league leaders going all out for the elusive winner late on.

Rangers manager Neil Kitching said: "At this point of the season, we have to keep chipping away. I would have preferred three points, but I'm delighted with one.

"We hadn't done enough to get back into it and then once we levelled in the last half an hour we should have won it really."

After beating Stocksbridge 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last week, Rangers had several chances in the opening exchanges.

Sam Griffiths' looping cross nearly found the hosts' net but for a last-ditch save by David Reay.

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However, the Steels stifled any Boro breakthrough and, after a goalless first half, took the lead in fortunate circumstances.

Adam Whitehouse slipped when kicking a back-pass to concede a corner, which resulted in Reay bundling the ball home on 53 minutes.

The goal shell-shocked the leaders, who could have been two behind when Scott Ruthven beat the offside trap moments later but blazed his shot over.

After a tactical change, Kitching's side looked more like themselves and when Ben Haseley's header was blocked by Reay the ball fell to Dacres who slotted home the leveller on 77 minutes.

Despite the Boro throwing everything forward in the final minutes, they had to settle for a point.

Stafford Rangers: Whitehouse, Reid, Griffiths, Johnson, Daniel, McNaught (Cater 68), Craddock, Rooney, Dacres, Haseley (Till 84), Obeng (Thomas 68).

Unused subs: Wynter, Goodwin.

Stocksbridge Park Steels: D Reay, Tootle, Coleman, Gregory, Griffin (Thompson 76), M Reay, Hinchliffe(Burton 91), Biggins, Lumsden, Ruthven, Poulton (Rhodes 80).

Unused subs: Laight, Hilton.

Attendance: 604.