Black did their competition-leading Workmans Red clubmates a huge favour thanks to an early tap in from Aaron Hatch and a stunning free kick strike in the opening minutes of the second half from Craig Walding.

AFC got the deficit back to one with a Patrick O'Connor header and, even after going down to 10 men when Alexis Le Masson was sent off, continued to look the more likely team to score late in the game.

Lithgow survived the late surge to leap up from outside the top six into fourth place.

Abercrombie remains in second place but they now have a list of five teams sitting four or less points behind them.

"They came over here today really strong and they just wanted it more," Le Masson said post-game.

"They're a bunch of big boys who moved us around. We gave away a stupid goal in the first five minutes and after that we really tried to push forward and we had a few good opportunities.

"We're still in second, which is good, but it feels like a missed chance today."

Abercrombie's defence was caught napping on a Lithgow free kick just three minutes into the match.

A short ball was played into Walding whose shot was blocked but his teammate Hatch was at the right place at the right time to score a simple tap in.

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The lead was almost doubled just a minute later but a stunning Ash Jones save deflected Mark Paine's shot wide for a corner.

Lithgow were denied by the crossbar when a Jon Cronin free kick thundered off the woodwork.

Walding's booming free kick halted momentum Abercrombie had been building either side of half-time.

The score looked certain to go to 3-0 before Peter Bourke missed a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper.

Abercrombie swiftly punished that miss with O'Connor's goal and had a great chance to hit back again when Cronin was given a 10 minute stint on the sideline for dissent.

However, Lithgow pulled through that period unharmed and it was soon Abercrombie's turn to go down to 10 men when Le Masson made dangerous contact with Workmans goalkeeper Dean Arda during a contest for the ball.

Abercrombie still had the bigger share of possession through the final 10 minutes but Lithgow's defence held firm.