RORY Patterson fired FC United to the top of the league with a stunning 20 yard volley.
The Rebels seemed set for a rare defeat at Nantwich, but Patterson's 74th minute strike was enough to save a point.
With league leaders Salford City playing in the Cup, the draw saw FC United edge to the top of the NWCFL Division 1 on goal difference.
Karl Marginson's side have five games in hand over Salford and now look a safe bet for the title.
Marginson was satisfied with the draw in Cheshire which follows his team's 3-2 win over promotion chasing Ashton Curzon in mid-week.
"Everyone in this league knows Nantwich is a tough place to come and play", he said.
"We were a bit disjointed and they did well to stop us playing the way we wanted to, but we have a few players who can pull a special goal out of the bag and Rory is one of them.
A crowd of 1,407 was at Jackson Avenue - a post war record for a league game at the venue.
Nantwich - third in the league and desperate for promotion as they prepare to move to a �3.8m stadium - had the better of the first half.
The breakthrough came after 24 minutes when Andy Kinsey picked up a smart through ball, and slotted past the advancing Sam Ashton in the visitor's goal.
FC United enjoyed more possession as the match wore on, but became increasingly frustrated as their attacks foundered on a well organised defence.
But when the ball broke to Patterson lying outside the penalty box for a free kick, there was no stopping his crashing left-footed volley.
FC UNITED snatched all three points in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at Gigg Lane thanks to Stuart Rudd's winner.
The Rebels left the pitch to a rousing ovation from the 2,493-strong crowd after twice fighting back from behind to overcome Curzon Ashton.
Karl Marginson's men are now just one point behind North West Counties League leaders Salford City with six games in hand.
Curzon took the lead after six minutes when Steven Moore netted. But FC United clicked into gear after the break. Substitute Gary Sampson struck a sweet equaliser from outside the area in the 49th minute, which prompted Curzon to launch an onslaught on the home side's goal.
Moore restored Curzon's lead with an exquisite lob, only to see Sampson pull United level again two minutes later.
There were chances at both ends after that, before Rudd - FC United's leading scorer - put his side in front in the 71st minute.
The Rebels held onto the lead despite missing a penalty with three minutes to go.
FC United can finally look forward to their first Cup semi-final after a comfortable win in Yorkshire.
Karl Marginson�s side eased past Silsden with a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals of the Northwest Counties League Challenge Cup.
Three first half goals from Josh Howard, Simon Carden and Rory Patterson were enough to win the match in front of 1,564 fans at Keighley�s Cougar Park Rugby ground.
FC United face a two legged semi-final but could be coming home if they win through.
The Cup Final last year was played at their own Gigg Lane and this year�s venue is still to be decided.
GOAL twins Rory Patterson and Stuart Rudd struck to give FC United a 2-1 comeback win at Bacup Borough which keeps them on course for the NWCL first division title.
The Rebels seized on leaders Salford City's latest slip, a 2-2 draw at Maine Road, to move to within a point of them at the summit with six games in hand on their Moor Lane rivals.
But Karl Marginson's men did it the hard way, trailing to a Stuart Shepherd penalty after Rudd had failed from the spot before he and Patterson again showed off their goalscoring prowess in front of a crowd of 1,504.
Salford were pegged back by Road's Martin Turner and Paul Wadsworth after John Robinson and Kenny Tudor had put them two-up.
That leaves third-placed Curzon Ashton, who beat Trafford 2-0, as the biggest threat to FC's second successive title hopes.