The Oldham Athletic youth team beat second-placed Burton Albion to move within two points of them with three games in hand.
After falling a goal behind, both sides were reduced to 10 men following an incident which saw Chinedu Uche dismissed for Latics.
However, Athletic hit back with two second half goals, one from Mason Fawns and the other from Brendy Glackin to secure the win.
Head of academy coaching Simon Cooper said: “I am delighted to get the win but I was frustrated at times because of the lack of discipline in the team so we made it harder than it was.
“Burton are a very good footballing side but no disrespect, I think on the day we were the better side.
“We had a lot of second years playing and if we put our chances away we would have been home and dry.
“We had Chinedu sent off, I got frustrated but credit to Pete Wild, he calmed me down, he gave me good council and I trust what he says to me so we made some changes and it bared fruits.
"To be fair to the lads, we adapted well to the task and it is a lesson to lean for their development in terms of discipline and reaction.
"It was a very open game, it could have been 5-5 but we had chances to put the game to bed. They also had chances and will be disappointed that they lost that game but we are buzzing we have won it.
“From Pete, to Emma the physio, to Andy the goalkeeper coach, it was a team effort and we got on the bus back with three points so it was a good day.
“Overall the lads are in a good place and we are proud of them."