Lincoln United dramatically extended their unbeaten run with an injury time winner as they overcame nine-man Melton Town to win 2-1.
After manager Scott Hellewell declared that the title race was back in the hands of his team following a positive week, Lincoln built on that momentum and make it 12 games unbeaten.
Lincoln took the lead early through top goalscorer Jack McMenemy before the game exploded to life in the final ten minutes with two goals and two red cards.
A fast United start:
Following on from victory against Shirebrook town in midweek, Hellewell named an unchanged starting 11, though Scott Matthews and Sean Wright returned to the bench with Louis Boyd dropping out of the squad.
Melton on the other hand came into this one having lost just one of their last six, drawing three along the way, and losing to promotion chasing Boston Town.
It was a fast start for Lincoln United as Jack McMenemy struck brilliantly from 25-yards, finding the top right corner brilliantly six minutes in.
Besides from that it was a slow start to the game, before a big chance for United to double their lead on 26 minutes. Jake Alley was forced into a save in the Melton goal on when Kelly Fombad fired from range.
However, he could only spill it as far as Gbolahan Okewoye who managed to fire over from six yards out.
The first meaningful chance for Melton came as Jack Steggles got down well to save a curling effort from Kairo Edwards-John as he turned in just inside the penalty area in the final five minutes of the half.
Then, in the third minute of injury time McMenemy switched play well to Jack Varley. He chested the ball down to Owen Vincent waiting on the penalty spot, but he could only fire over.
The was the last act in what was a quiet half, where both sides looked happy to let each other keep the ball with United trying to test stand-in goalkeeper Alley from distance.
Chances at both ends:
The second-half got underway with Melton making a change in their frontline as Keenan King came on in place of Kieran Hayes. He got straight involved in the action as Edwards-John raced down the left and crossed towards the six-yard box where e King acrobatically headed over.
Lincoln United went forward for the first time on 49 minutes, as the ball bounced around the penalty and McMenemy had a shot blocked from close range.
Hellewell then made his first change of the game Tristan Drummond came on in place of Harry Millard and was immediately involved as he pulled back Edwards-John from behind.
There was another chance for Lincoln to double their lead when Evan Payne had a powerful header well saved after a free-kick from the left.
A manic finish to the game at Ashby Avenue:
Just before the final ten minutes and Melton found an equaliser slightly against the run of play as a corner was crossed in from the right. United struggled to clear and Mikkel Hirst eventually turned the bouncing ball home at the far post.
Lincoln looked to bounce back instantly as substitute Scott Mathews drove through midfield, but he could only fire over from 18-yards. Mathews was then involved again on 84 minutes as he flashed a dangerous low ball across the penalty area that was well cleared by Melton.
The visitors arguably should have taken the lead two minutes later as King broke through down the left, but found the side netting when one-on-one with Steggles.
Lincoln dramatically regained the lead in injury time as Owen Vincent went down the penalty area and the referee instantly pointed to the spot.
Captain Elliott Dye stepped up and calmly slotted into the bottom left corner after being made to wait almost five minutes as the referee consulted with both assistants.
In the drama, Melton goal scorer Hirst received a red card for dissent after being sin-binned for scuffing up the penalty spot before King received the same punishment.
It ended 2-1, with Lincoln extending their unbeaten run and keeping the pressure on the others in the title race.