Carlisle United were beaten 3-2 at home by promotion rivals Salford City – and have lost a player for the play-offs.
The defeat was bad enough but the Blues had Jon Mellish sent-off seven minutes from time for apparently pushing an opponent in the face.
It was all part of a frantic finish in which Carlisle pulled level, had Mellish sent-off and then conceded the winner with two minutes left of the 90 although they went on to play 10 minutes of added time.
First-half goals from Colin Hendry and Luke Bolton seemed to have put the visitors firmly in the driving seat before Carlisle staged a fighting comeback.
Joe Garner pulled a goal back on 77 minutes and they were then awarded a penalty which Kristian Dennis despatched to bring them level.
But in the pushing and shoving which followed the penalty award Mellish was singled out by the referee and sent for an early shower. Liam Shepherd had fouled Garner in then box but then Mellish tangled with Elliot Watt who was shown a yellow card after the incident.
DSalford kept their cool and their nerve and in the 88th minute Bolton grabbed his second with a superb left foot strike which gave Tomas Holy little chance.
It leaves Carlisle in fifth place sit three points better off than eighth-placed Mansfield and the Blues also have a better goal difference.
