Carlisle United moved second in the National League with a crucial victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Forest Green.
But they needed two late goals to clinch the points against a visiting side who played the last 27 minutes with 10 men.
The Blues were twice pegged back by Forest Green equalisers but after the red card for Laurent Mendy they finally broke their resistance in the closing stages.
It was the battle of the Welshmen with Mark Hughes and Robbie Savage in charge of the two sides.
Hughes’ team struck first when top-scorer Regan Linney put them ahead on 18 minutes.
But the advantage lasted only eight minutes when Jayden Clarke popped in the first leveller.
Carlisle regained the lead in first half added time when Linney struck with his second.
Eight minutes into the second half Savage’s side were on terms again through Harvey Bunker.
The game was tipped Carlisle’s way on 63 minutes when Mendy fouled Linney to collect his second yellow and his marching orders.
It was substitute Harvey McAdam who finally broke Forest Green resistance by hammering home Carlisle’s third goal five minutes from time.
The points were wrapped up in the second minute of time added on when Georgie Kelly scored the fourth goal from the penalty spot.
The win enabled Carlisle to leapfrog Forest Green who slipped to fifth.
