A CONTROVERSIAL penalty was the “turning point” as Stourbridge squandered the lead in a frustrating 1-1 draw at Buxton on Tuesday night.

The Glassboys piled on the pressure in the first-half before Leon Broadhurst deservedly put his side ahead shortly after half-time.

But the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty straight from the restart after a challenge from Daryl Westlake inside the area – a decision which riled Stour boss Gary Hackett.

He said: “It is disappointing as it was a game we should have won.

“We should have been 3-0 up at half time but for some good goalkeeping and a bit better finishing from us.

“We got the goal to go one up but then there was a very disappointing penalty decision.

“Some of my lads who I 100 per cent trust said it was without doubt a dive and that was very frustrating.

“Overall the performance was very good.

“Buxton got better in the second half and it could have gone either way, but the penalty was the turning point.”

Stour’s woes were heightened after debutant Bradley Reid, on loan from Tamworth, pulled up injured with a suspected hamstring injury in the second-half.

Hackett added: “It probably sums up a little bit of our luck that he has torn his hamstring.

“He is going to be out for a few weeks but we will know more tomorrow.

“He had a very positive debut and that is frustrating for us.”

The point sees Stour bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat to Altrincham last week, and Hackett hopes to see another improved performance in a tough game at home to third-placed Ashton United on Saturday, who narrowly beat them 1-0 earlier this year.

He added: “It was a much improved performance from the previous game and now we have got to take that confidence into the game with Ashton.

“We played them not so long ago and it was a very tight game.

“It is the first Saturday home game for quite a long time so hopefully we will get the fans behind us.”