A battling performance saw Pinchbeck United earn what could be a vital point despite playing for 84 minutes with 10 men against Eastwood on Tuesday night.
But manager Lewis Thorogood was left frustrated by the ‘diabolical’ officiating.
It’s ahead of another important fixture at Heather St John’s on Saturday.
The Knights are hoping not to get pulled into the relegation fight.
They’re two places and 19 points ahead of the Leicestershire side who sit above Selston in the relegation zone but with both having two games in hand on Pinchbeck.
With four games to go, the Knights’ next three are away, but two of them are against the bottom two.
A win on Saturday will go a long way to securing their Uhlsport United Counties League Premier Division North status ahead of Monday’s trip to fifth placed Sleaford Town (3pm ko).
Eastwood are only just ahead of Pinchbeck in the table, but the Knights were up against it from the sixth minute onwards after Josh Simpson was shown a straight red for an alleged elbow on an Eastwood player.
“The officiating was diabolical,” Thorogood said. “Giving out a red card after six minutes to an 18-year-old whose gone up to win a header without any malice in such an important game for both sides is ridiculous.
“They went up for a 50/50 and they said there was an elbow but I don’t believe there was anything in it.
“They handed out six yellows and a red in the first half alone and it wasn’t a dirty game, just two sides going all out for the win.
“It’s infuriating.”
Despite the visitors to the Sir Halley Stewart having several chances, it was the Knights who took the lead in the 27th minute thanks to a brilliant free kick from Elliot Foster.
Pinchbeck had the better chances at the start of the second half and defended resolutely, but they were undone with 15 minutes remaining when Eastwood sub Kamani Wilson was on hand to slot home a Conor Moore cross.
The Knights had chances to win it late on but Andre Williams had an effort well-saved when on-on-one before Foster too was denied by the keeper.
“We showed a lot of character and I guess you take a point being down to ten men for so long.
The point ended a run of defeats including Saturday’s 1-0 loss in a local derby at home to Boston Town.
A Harry Limb header in the 51st minute was enough to see Boston take the points.
The Knights were better in the second half and came close to levelling on several occasions, Andrew Williams going closest but being unable to capitalise after a mistake by the Boston keeper.
Knights v Eastwood: Wilkinson, Floyd, Millar, Simpson, Worthington, Robson, Dilley, N Stevens, Williams, Burdass, Foster. Subs: H Stevens, Johnson, Viera, Jaine, Sheriff.
Attendance: 55.
Knights v Boston Town: Wilkinson, Jaine, Millar, Sheriff, , Robson, Dilley, Robson, Williams, Moyses, Burdass, Foster Subs: H Stevens, N Stevens, Henderson, Johnson
Attendance: 126.
