SIMON Carden struck twice late on to pinch an unlikely 3-2 victory for FC United after they'd lost goalkeeper Sam Ashton to injury.
Ashton was forced off in the 63rd minute with a knock he sustained in a failed attempt to prevent Nick Wellecombe giving hosts Newcastle Town a shock 2-1 lead at the Lyme Valley Stadium.
With no substitute keeper on the bench, striker Rory Patterson took over in goal, but, despite the handicap, the rebel reds bounced back to snatch a win which takes them nine points clear of second-placed Salford City.
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Boss Karl Marginson said: "The boys showed great character to come back under difficult circumstances. I couldn't have asked for more."
Steve Spencer slotted FC United into a 36th-minute lead, but it was quickly wiped out by Dave Berks.
Marginson's men appeared to be heading for only their second defeat of the season when Ashton was carried off after Wellecombe had struck.
But Carden tapped in a 76th-minute equaliser before volleying home the winner more than four minutes into stoppage-time.
2 Matty Taylor
3 Alex Mortimer
4 Steve Spencer
5 Dave Brown
6 Rob Nugent
7 Rhodri Giggs
8 Simon Carden
9 Stuart Rudd
10 Josh Howard
11 Rory Patterson(captain)
Subs Used 12. Jamie Phoenix(for 7, 61mins) 13. Nick Platt(for 1, 67mins) 15. David Chadwick(for 6, 39mins) Attendance:1833
Scorers Spencer 31, Carden 75, 90