Coventry Sphinx could not stop Heanor Town going top of the Midland Football League Premier Division with a 4-2 home defeat.
Luke Hopkins side won two early corners but the second was cleared up to Nathan Benger who broke and fired past Scott Dutton who got his hand to the ball but could not stop it going into the net in the tenth minute.
Sphinx lost the influential Lewis Rankin who was the victim of a unpunished heavy challenge.
In the 37th minute, Heanor went two goals up when Jay Cooper headed in and five minutes later, Joe Naylor headed home from twelve yards following a Dutton punch.
Sphinx had two headed off the line and in the 50th minutes, Jackson Downie was sent crashing and Richard Blythe scored from the resulting penalty.
Thirteen minutes later and the Sphinx support fumed when referee Mr Lane failed to send off Jamie Clarke for an elbow on Matty Taylor.
In the 62nd minute, the Sphinx support were celebrating a second goal when Richard Blythe volleyed home from twenty yards.
Kyle Barnett had a header saved and Heanor hit the post but in the 77th minute of this highly entertaining affair, Heanor scored a fourth through Danny Claridge with a stunning finish.
Heanor had a goal ruled out