Keast had looked on course to land his first league win at the Vic Couzens Stadium since taking over the helm at the end of January until Stocksbridge stunned Stamford with two late goals, including an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

The Daniels had looked to have done enough to earn their first league win of the season, but spurned a couple of decent opportunities at crucial times to put themselves well out of the visitors' reach.

Chris Goodman was handed his first start of the league campaign in midfield with Ross Watson dropping back into defence to replace Paul Sheehan.

New signing Michael Byrne – brother of former Stamford striker Kevin Byrne – was named on the substitutes bench following his switch from UCL Premier Division side S&L Corby.

Stamford got their noses in front after 18 minutes when Dan Cotton miscued a low free-kick which fell invitingly into the path of Phil Stebbing who rifled home the opening goal through a crowd of players.

Cotton could have increased the advantage three minutes later when he collected a quick Goodman free-kick only to see his well-struck shot brilliantly tipped over by visiting keeper Dave Ratcliffe.

The visitors posed the biggest threat in the first half from corners and Dom Hallows had to be alert to clear Mark Ward's inswinging delivery off the line.

Goodman then came to the Daniels rescue as he headed Brett Lovell's goalbound effort away from danger following another flag kick.

Cotton should have doubled the Daniels' lead six minutes before the break when he did well to rob Lovell on the edge of the box but fired his shot wide with just Ratcliffe to beat.

However, the miss didn't look too costly as Stamford struck again 11 minutes into the second half when Hallows floated the ball into the box for Watson to guide it into the path of Shaun Pearson who swept home his first goal in Stamford colours.

The visitors refused to roll over though and served Stamford warning of their intent with 20 minutes remaining when Lovell rattled the home crossbar with a rasping volley.

A goal looked inevitable and the visitors duly obliged in spectacular fashion when Dean Sidebottom unleashed a superb 75th minute volley following a clearance from a corner into the top of Martin Davies' net.

It was now all Stocksbridge and they snatched a share of the spoils in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Adam Cunnington lost control of the ball on the halfway line as the visitors slickly turned defence into attack by feeding Andy Ring who found space to slot the ball past the advancing Davies.

Stamford: Davies, White (Taylor 76), Hallows, Watson, Pearson, Goodman (Musgrove 90), Cotton, Gray, Cunnington, Stebbing (Byrne 84), Kirk. Subs not used: Guiney, Whitby.

Stocksbridge: Ratcliffe, Richards, Stratford, Adams, Lovell, Wilkinson (Telling 57), Hirst, Ashley, Vardy, Ward (Sidebottom 65), Ring. Subs not used: Schofield, Wainman, Ingham.

Attendance: 242.

Mercury man-of-the-match: Ross Watson.

Match sponsor: Westbourne Building Consultants.