Wigan Athletic marched on towards the Nationwide Division Two title after making their one-man advantage count with a 1-0 victory at closest rivals Crewe.
The Railwayman had their backs to the wall once Efe Sodje was sent off after 17 minutes. And Nathan Ellington's 38th minute strike was on the cards after a barrage of attacking, which also saw Tony Dinning hit a thumping header onto the woodwork via Alex keeper Clayton Ince's outstretched hand.
By then the bad-tempered opening exchanges had been dissipated, but Crewe had paid the penalty for the Nigerian right back's dismissal.
Recalled to the starting 11 for the injured David Wright, Sodje threw himself in recklessly after just 20 seconds raising his boot at Lee McCulloch, who was left crumpled in agony by the touchline.
The midfielder had to be taken off and referee Eddie Wolstenholme issued a yellow card to the Crewe defender.
But when the defender foolishly crashed into substitute Neil Roberts as he attempted to reach an outswinging corner 17 minutes later, the official had no hesitation to show him red.
Crewe sacrificed young midfielder Lee Bell to bring on Chris McCready at right back and Wigan took control of the contest. Dinning and Jimmy Bullard went close with shots from outside the box before Ellington, standing almost on the goalline, finished off at the far post after the Alex defence had crumbled.
Roberts took Dinning's pass down the left side of the box and hooked the ball over Ince to leave the Latics' leading scorer with a simple task.
They came close to extending their lead in first-half injury time when Roberts' header rebounded off the foot of the post from Nicky Eaden's cross and Andy Liddell's ferocious follow-up volley was parried by Ince.
The leaders went off the boil somewhat after the break, but Crewe struggled to get any service up to Rob Hulse and Rodney Jack.
And they were hit with another blow when in-form striker Steve Jones was scythed down by Dinning and stretchered off with a suspected broken leg in the 59th minute.
Dinning was lucky to escape with a yellow card, one of many strange decisions made by the inconsistent Wosltenholme, which left the home crowd enraged.