However, a fifth draw in eight league games on home turf, while a fair outcome on the day, hardly boosted their UniBond Division One South play-off prospects.

With Bobby White breaking down in the warm-up, manager Dougie Keast handed Ryan Collis a rare start on the left side of defence.

Stamford made a bright start with Stebbing forcing Sheffield keeper Leigh Walker into early action and Dan Cotton firing over from a rolled free-kick by Tyrone Kirk.

The Daniels went ahead after 21 minutes when Kirk's left wing cross found Shaun Pearson rising high above the visiting defence to head powerfully into the net.

Sheffield fought back and a great 25-yard strike from skipper Steve Hawes was matched by an equally impressive tip over from Martin Davies in the Daniels goal.

The keeper was left flat-footed after 28 minutes though as Steve Woolley produced some trickery on the left before crossing for Matt Outram to steer the ball back across Davies at full stretch.

Kirk almost restored Stamford's lead 10 minutes before the break but was thwarted by Daz Winter's goalline clearance and from the resulting corner Matt Oswin was narrowly too high.

Sheffield posed a threat late in the half with Woolley firing just wide of the far post after breaking on the left.

In the dying seconds of the opening period the visitors went ahead with a clever finish by Scott Partridge who latched onto a through ball and lifted the ball over the advancing Davies.

Early in the second half Stebbing could only glance a Cotton free-kick wide of the target while just before the hour mark there was drama at both ends.

Walker produced a smart reaction save with his legs to keep out Jamie Clarke's bullet header and as Sheffield broke quickly Davies was called into action to turn away a Partridge effort.

Partridge again went close for the visitors, sending a powerful header narrowly over, but as the match progressed Stamford began to force Sheffield back into defence.

With frustration mounting as the visiting rearguard survived several scares, Stebbing came to the Daniels rescue with six minutes remaining, glancing in Cotton's well placed free-kick.

Stamford: Davies, Steadman, Collis (Cunnington 70), Sheehan, Pearson, Oswin (Watson 86), Cotton, Gray, Clarke, Stebbing, Kirk. Subs not used: Taylor, Hallows.

Sheffield: Walker, Smith, Davey, Haggerty, Cochrane, Winter, Outram (Roney 86), Hawees, Goddard, Partridge (Eagers 81), Woolley. Subs not used: Gelsthorpe, Lipka, Mitchell.

Attendance: 264.

Mercury man-of-the-match: Tyrone Kirk.

Match and ball sponsors: Peterborough Posties.