Carlisle City left it late, but returned to winning way at struggling Sunderland RCA last night.
With ten minutes left City were trailing 2-1 to a side who had only won one game all season, but in a big finish fashioned the 4-2 victory.
City move up to fourth in the table and have a big game on Saturday at Guisborough who also have play-off ambitions.
Manager Jim Nichols said: “It’s a horrible situation to be in when you go to a place and are expected to win well but from nowhere are 2-0 down.
“We were playing up the slope and inside 20 minutes they had scored twice, while we had dominated.
“But credit to the lads, they stuck at it. We knew if we got one before half-time we would be in a good position and Jordan Palmer produced a great first touch and a fine finish across the keeper.
“In the second-half we completely dominated. I can’t remember them getting out of their own half to be fair.
“But it just wouldn’t come. We got quite aggressive in our formation and I suppose it was virtually 3-2-5 with two wingers and three centre-forwards.
“Finally we got our equaliser and once that went in we were confident others would follow to win the game – which they did.
“Credit to the lads for the way they stuck at it for an important win which moved us up to fourth.
“Unfortunately we have a couple of injury concerns – Josh Simpson was on the end of a shocking tackle and Dan Kirkup came off with a knee injury. Both might struggle for Saturday.”
Sunderland had taken the lead on 17 minutes when City cleared a cross but from the edge of the area Daniel Maw fired through a crowd of players into the bottom corner.
Two minutes later when City were penalised a free kick into the box wasn’t cleared and D’Armando Lawrence doubled the home lead.
Palmer’s goal on 34 minutes steadied City although they had to wait until the 85th minute for Callum Birdsall’s equaliser.
Rob McCartney put them ahead a minute later and he added his second in the fifth minute of added time.
