Cardea lined up with Gavin Sampson in goal and a back three of Michael Williams, Dale Moore and Stuart Yaxley. Adam Simons and Kynan Bereznyckyj played as wingbacks.

Shane Cooke, Aaron Yeoman and Gav Earl started in the middle with Matt Jarvis and Luke Penman up front.

This was a game that Cardea couldn't afford to lose, as three points to Premiair would have sent them 9 points clear, although Cardea would still have two games in hand. The game was very end to end with both teams pressuring high up the pitch.

The first chance of the game fell to left wingback Bereznyckyj whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar for a corner.

An even better chance came minutes later as a ball forward from captain for the day Yaxley picked out Cooke running into the area. The keeper started to come out but as the ball bounced up the Cardea number 9 lobbed the ball over the bar.

At the other end Sampson had to be at his best to tip a great shot over the bar for a Premiair corner.

Cardea then had a penalty appeal turned down when Bereznyckjy was brought down in the area but the referee said no foul.

With half an hour gone Cardea thought they had took the lead only for a dubious offside decision to rule the goal out. Cooke ran past defenders to get on the end of a through ball and rounded the keeper but the controversial flag kept the scoreline goalless.

As half time approached Cooke had another great chance to score the opener. A Yeoman corner was headed towards goal by Williams and palmed away by the keeper to the feet of Cooke but he fired wide from 3 yards.

The first half was a tight contest with Cardea edging the better of the chances. However into the second half Premiair had more of the ball and the Cardea defence was tested more. A fierce shot from Premiair winger Ben Calvo was well blocked by the head of Yaxley!

Up the other end Jarvis was denied a goal by a great block from the Premiair defender. From the following corner Cardea had the ball in the net again as Williams rose highest to head home but the referee again disallowed it for a foul on the defender.

In the 68th minute the referee did finally award Cardea a penalty when Penman was fouled in the area. Yeoman stepped up to take it and sent the ball high into the net to give Cardea the lead.

Cardea nearly added a second as Yeoman ran into the box and his cross/shot was nearly turned in at the back post by Simons.

Premiair were looking increasingly dangerous when they attacked and Sampson did well to tip a shot onto the bar to deny them an equaliser. Williams also produced a miraculous over head kick clearance off the line to stop a Premiair corner going in.

Ryan Moore replaced Yeoman with around 15 minutes to go and he combined well with Simons and crossed into the box but Penman lifted the ball over the goal.

With three minutes to go Premiair scored an equaliser. A set piece was sent into the area and only half cleared to the penalty spot where John Belcher slammed the ball past Sampson and it looked as if they had snatched a point.

However three minutes into stoppage time as both teams pressed for the winner Cooke played a defence splitting ball to Penman who kept his composure and slotted the ball past the keeper into the net leading to mass celebrations from the players and management team.

The referee brought an end to the contest 40 seconds later and it was a massive result which puts Cardea in the driving seat for the title, just three points behind Premiair with 2 games in hand.

After the game manager Craig Robinson said: "Perfect from start to finish. Everyone put a shift in. Can't fault any player, they only scored through a lucky slip and we fully deserved the win."

Manager Kev Webster added: "I thought the effort from the whole team was spot on. We battled well, played good football and created more chances then the score line showed. Today was by far the best we have played in a while.

"The passion and desire to win this game was spot on. I can list the whole team for man of the match but the way you all played was just fantastic. For this week we will open the vote to man of the match to you guys. You all deserve it. Be proud that was a good win against a good team."

Cardea will look to keep their league momentum going as they take on Diesel Power for the first time next Sunday.