Town made it 18 League games unbeaten at Portman Road with Danny Haynes on target for Blues in a top six clash.
Haynes struck with a powerful right foot drive after a bright start from Jim Magilton's side but fourth placed Stoke left with a point following Ricardo Fuller's equaliser just past the half hour mark.
Owen Garvan recovered from flu to take his place in the midfield, Tommy Miller coming in for Gavin Williams, who picked up a thigh injury in training.
Former Town loanee Fuller was back at Portman Road and had the first opening of the game, the Stoke frontman testing Neil Alexander from 12 yards.
Steve Simonsen was then forced to palm away from Jon Walters, the Stoke 'keeper tested again with a cross that he pushed over the bar from Haynes.
Ryan Shawcross recovered well to rob Alan Lee after the Town striker burst in on goal, while at the other end Danny Pugh fired over the bar from the angle.
Alexander did enough to palm away Liam Lawrence's left footed drive on the quarter hour before Blues took the lead, Lee feeding Haynes on the right and the England U19 international arrowed his shot past Simonsen and into the net via the inside of the post.
Stoke were forced into an immediate change with Gabbi Zakuani replacing the injured Andy Wilkinson.
Good play by Pablo Counago released Haynes whose almost added a second, his shot beaten out by Simonsen. Walters' cross then cleared off the line by Carl Dickinson as Blues looked likely to extend the lead.
Lee headed wide from a corner, while at the other end,Shawcross and Carl Cort were denied as they tried to force in a Potters' flag kick.
Stoke levelled just past the half hour, Fuller grabbing his 12th goal of the season with a clinical finish after Pugh's pass had fallen into his stride.
Lee and Walters, who signed a new contract before the game, both had half chances with Lawrence firing high and wide with the last opening of the half.
Counago, up against the impressive Shawcross, on loan at Stoke from Manchester United, was caught by the 20 year-old defender 25 yards out in the opening exchanges of the second-half, Tommy Miller's free-kick hitting the wall.
Lee sent a right foot effort wide, Pugh's trickery on the left forcing Alexander into a low save, John Eustace lofting the ball over the bar from Jason De Vos' clearance just before the hour.
David Wright saw a 30 yard striker flash just wide, with De Vos and Fuller booked within two minutes as the heat was turned up by both teams. Stoke sending on The Beast, Jon Parkin, in place of Dickinson.
Haynes' cross was almost met by Walters at the far post, Haynes then seeing his free-kick tipped over by Simonsen.
Alexander produced a crucial save on 75 minutes, diving at the feet of Fuller after the Jamaican internationalhad shrugged off Wright and Sito and tried to round the Town 'keeper.
Cresswell picked up a second Stoke booking as the game entered the last 10 minutes, Sylvain Legwinski then replacing Miller in Town's first change.
Lee failed to get any power on his shot from 12 yards as Blues pressed for a second goal and only brilliant defending from Cort prevented the Republic of Ireland international converting Haynes' cross from six yards.
Counago had a penalty appeal turned down when Rory Delay appeared to wrap his arms around the striker, Parkin then going down under Alexander's challenge in the Town box but referee Keith Stroud correctly waving play on.
Billy Clarke replaced Counago for the last five minutes, Legwinski and then Haynes booked in a frenetic finish.
Lawrence fired into the sidenetting in added on time. Simonsen quick off his line to deny Clarke before a final blast of the whistle from referee Stroud.
Town: Alexander, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Sito, Haynes, Garvan, Miller (Legwinski 80), Walters, Lee, Counago (Clarke 86) Subs not used: Supple, Wilnis, Peters.Booked: De Vos, Legwinski, Haynes.
Stoke: Simonsen, Wilkinson (Zakuani 19), Shawcross, Cort, Dickinson (Parkin 65), Lawrence, Eustace, Delap, Pugh, Fuller, Cresswell. Subs not used: Hoult, Pericard, Pulis. Booked: Fuller, Cresswell.
Att: 20, 346
