Curzon Ashton had to dig deep, very deep, and it was a goal in the final seconds of the 90 minutes that secured them the vital three points.
Despite kicking into the wind in the opening half it was Curzon, through James Ogoo, who brought either keeper into action, as they moved down the left. The cross into the area by the midfielder had mark Thornley at full stretch to take the ball from under his crossbar.
David Foster tried a shot from long range and his wind assisted effort had David Carnell taking possession of the ball at the second attempt.
The home side knocked the ball about with confidence as Gazapo played the ball out wide to Rhodri Giggs. His cross was turned out of play by the head of Guy Heffernan.
On 24 minutes the home side somehow managed to turn a throw-in on the left, and midway inside the City half, into a City attack as they managed to gain possession, and the ball through the middle had Kevin Parr racing back to get in front of Foster, blocking the forwards run and allowing the ball to go into the hands of Carnell.
Curzon should have taken the lead on 31 minutes as they once again built from the back.
Alex Mortimer won a tackle on the halfway line and fed the ball through to Jorge Gazapo. His pass to Mike Norton was rolled across the 18 yard line and as Giggs stepped over the ball, and with Thornley racing off his line, Chris Worsley had a free shot at goal but drove the ball wide of the target.
City took the lead six minutes into the second period and it came from an unlikely source as a corner from Tom Entwistle was swung-in from the left. Carnell tried to punch the ball clear but it came off his knuckles and, despite a brave attempt by David Birch to clear the ball, ended up in the back of the net.
Five minutes later and it got worse for the home side when Worsley, cautioned in the first half, was shown a second yellow card after colliding with Foster on the halfway line as the visitors broke out of defence.
Gazapo gave way to Danny Exley for his debut on 62 minutes and six minutes later Gary Lowe threw caution to the wind, bringing off central defender Parr for midfielder Eddie Stanford, for what is often described as an 'inspired substitution'.
If the Stanford substitution was inspired, on 72 minutes there was a defining moment in the game after Nick Allen lost possession on he left. A sot from Aaron Halliwell thudded against the right hand post of Carnell's goal and with Entwistle following up, the keeper made a superb block to keep the ball out of his net, and the game was set-up for a thrilling finale.
Two minutes later and there was controversy as Curzon attacked the visitors goal.
A ball over the top had Giggs through on goal. His shot had the beating of Thornley but Heffernan threw himself along the line. It looked to be a clear case of handball, but referee Peter Bankes indicated that it struck the chest of the defender, and with Norton following up his shot struck Thornley and out for a corner.
The scores were levelled on 76 minutes after Curzon were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal on the right after Exley had been fouled. Stanford placed the ball, and with his left foot, drove the ball low and round the defensive wall, leaving Thornley flat-footed and the ball in the back of the net.
Stanford had another shot which went into the arms of Thornley and it was Stanford again, five minutes from time, with another free kick, forcing Thornley to dive at full stretch to turn the ball wide of goal.
With just seconds remaining of the 90 minutes a long ball forward was headed on by Giggs. Chris Curley gave chase as Neil Marshall headed towards his 6 yard area and with Thornley coming off his line he knocked the ball beyond his keeper and into the back of the net and with it three points to the team in blue.