Two goals in second-half stoppage time from Ollie Banks and Stefan Payne saw Tranmere Rovers come from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Burton Albion in Sky Bet League One at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon.
Burton were in front after 66 minutes through Lucas Akins’ penalty after Stephen Quinn was brought down by Cameron Borthwick-Jackson.
But Banks’ right-footed free-kick in stoppage time paved the way for Rovers to earn a dramatic three-points.
Tranmere won it the fourth minute of added time when Payne bundled in from on the goal-line to spark jubilant scenes around Prenton Park.
Manager Micky Mellon named an unchanged starting line-up to the side which earned a 2-2 draw against Peterborough United on Tuesday night, for the visit of the Brewers.
New signing Neil Danns was named on the substitutes bench after penning a contract until the end of the season on Thursday.
Tranmere started well on a sun-kissed Wirral day, threatening within four minutes as George Ray headed down Kieron Morris’ corner at the back post after a corner from the right, which was spilled by goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara, but no white shirt was able to capitalise on the loose ball.
The hosts were on the front foot, and went close again on 22 minutes when, following good build-up play, Darren Potter fed through Morris down the right, who cut inside but drove his left-footed effort into the side-netting of O’Hara’s near post.
Having earlier forced Rovers’ captain Scott Davies to keep hold of his fizzing strike from distance, Oliver Sarkic turned provider for Joe Sbarra to pull a low shot across goal which went wide of the bottom left post.
With 10 minutes until the half-time break, Banks whipped an enticing free-kick into the penalty area from the right, which found the head of Manny Monthe in a crowded box, only for the Burton back-line to clear.
Nigel Clough’s Staffordshire outfit had an opportunity in the closing stages of the half when play dropped to Sarkic, with the forward forcing stopper Davies to get down low to his left and tip a 20-yard daisycutter effort around the post.
David Perkins was forced off injured on the stroke of the interval, with fellow midfielder Danns coming on to make his Rovers debut.
Following the restart, Tranmere should have been in front with 56 minutes on the clock when substitute Borthwick-Jackson sent a cross from the left to the back post, where Paul Mullin was arriving, but he volleyed just past the upright.
On the hour, Banks tried another long-range strike at goal, but O’Hara gathered the ball at the second attempt.
Kieran Wallace and Sbarra flashed attempts wide of the target for Burton, as they pressed for an opener.
Rovers found themselves behind with 24 minutes of the contest to go. Midfielder Quinn reacted first to a loose pass to make his way into the area before being brought down by Borthwick-Jackson which saw referee Alan Young point to the spot.
Former Tranmere man Akins stepped up from 12-yards to send Davies the wrong way and plant his kick which found the bottom right-corner.
And Burton almost found themselves two up five minutes later, with Davies making a fine low double save, firstly from Nathan Broadhead before thwarting the follow up from Ryan Edwards whilst still on the floor.
Pushing for an equaliser, two Mullin openings went begging, with the Liverpudlian heading over Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross prior to firing over O’Hara’s crossbar.
Rovers levelled in stoppage time when midfielder Banks curled in right-footed beyond the wall from 25-yards which beat O’Hara to find the bottom left-corner.
And Tranmere won it on 94 minutes when Payne bundled in from on the line after Danns flicked on a cross from the right to secure a second victory of the campaign.
Next up for TRFC is a trip to Portman Road where Ipswich Town await on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
TRFC: Davies ©, Nelson, Ray (Borthwick-Jackson 45), Monthe, Morris, Banks, Potter (Potter 66), Perkins (Danns 45), Ridehalgh, Mullin, Payne
Subs not used: Pilling, Jennings, Hepburn-Murphy, Ponticelli