Crewe Alexandra scored twice in the final 12 minutes as they thwarted Carlisle United's fightback to win 4-2 at Brunton Park and go top of League Two.
The visitors looked comfortable after Nicky Hunt and Daniel Powell fired them into a 2-0 lead.
Carlisle battled back to draw level with two goals in the space of five minutes for Hallam Hope and Christie Elliott, only for the Alex to have the final say through Chris Porter and a Gethin Jones own goal.
Crewe's early pressure was rewarded on seven minutes when, from Tom Lowery's free-kick wide on the right, Byron Webster was unable to deal with an awkward bounce and Hunt pounced to steer home from six yards.
Crewe doubled their lead when a lightning break gave Powell the chance to race away to arrowed a superb 18-yard shot across Adam Collin and into the top right-hand corner.
Carlisle raised their spirits on 59 minutes when substitute Stefan Scougall's run gave Jack Iredale the opportunity to send in a low cross which Hope was able to slide home from close range.
Iredale was again the provider when Carlisle then equalised on 64 minutes, his cross finding its way to Elliott, who volleyed past Dave Richards from six yards.
Alex regained the lead in the 78th minute, when James Jones made a quick impact from the bench, whipping over a cross that Porter forced home for his sixth strike of the season.
Crewe settled a fluctuating contest in the 85th minute, when a cross from Perry Ng looped into the net via a deflection off Jones - a goal that edged David Artell's side back above Exeter at the top, on more goals scored.
The two sides both have 26 points, and have a goal difference of 7, but Crewe have netted 23 times to Exeter's 18.
It is the second time Crewe have been top this season, having briefly led for four days after four games back in August.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
