Mickleover went toe to toe with league leaders Buxton as the two Derbyshire sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at a sunny Don Amott Arena.
Sports twice led thanks to long range strikes from Liam Ravenhill and Ben Radcliffe but still required a late Stuart Beavon goal to rescue a point in the end.
Mickleover manager John McGrath said: "It was obviously disappointing after taking the lead a couple times but really pleased and impressed with the boys especially with how they reacted to going 3-2 down and obviously scoring the late goal which was excellent for us. I think it was at least a deserved point."
The match took a bit of time to get going with both sides barely managing a shot on goal between them in the opening 20 minutes of the first half.
Rhys Dolan had Mickleover's first chance of the game in the 21st minute but his volley was straight at Theo Richardson in the Buxton goal.
Five minutes later and Andy Dales chipped the ball to Radcliffe at the back post but he failed to get any real power on his header and Richardson again gathered the ball easily.
The home side then broke the deadlock after 28 minutes through a magnificent strike from Liam Ravenhill. Ravenhill collected the ball on the left handmade before chopping inside and then curling the ball beautifully into the far corner to put Mickleover ahead.
Buxton came close to equalising 5 minutes before half time but Jonathan Hedge got down quickly to make a superb save low to his right.
Unfortunately for Hedge, Buxton equalised from the following corner through Ash Chambers after the ball fell to him in the box for him to smash home.
Buxton should have been ahead two minutes later after another corner caused chaos in the Mickleover penalty area but the ball somehow stayed out of the net.
It was then Mickleover who got themselves back in front on the stroke of half time thanks to a wonder strike from Ben Radcliffe. Radcliffe picked up the ball inside the Buxton half before unleashing a powerful effort from 20 yards which flew past the helpless Buxton keeper.
Mickleover then went into the break 2-1 to the good.
However, it took just seven second half minutes for Buxton to level again, this time through Warren Clarke. Buxton played some really nice football around the Mickleover area as they worked the ball out to Clarke on the left hand side and he made no mistake and slotted the ball past Hedge into the bottom corner.
In the 67th minute Clarke came inches away from putting Buxton ahead for the first time in the match, but his shot from 19 yards went just over the bar with Hedge flailing.
Two minutes later and Buxton did take the lead after Elliot Walker gave away a penalty for a push on a Buxton attacker. Diego De Girolano converted the spot kick for The Bucks to make the game 3-2.
Stuart Beavon came close to equalising in the 84th minute, but he could not direct a difficult header on target and it went agonisingly wide.
Beavon then did grab the equaliser just three minutes from time thanks to some good work from the striker. Joe Bateman sent a long ball forwards which Beavon got onto the end of before cutting inside and catching the keeper out with a shot low and hard that went in at the near post.
The referee then blew his full time whistle leaving Buxton and South Shields level on points at the top of the NPL Premier Division with just two games left to play.
The draw left Mickleover in 13th place still.
John McGrath said: "I think if you are a neutral watching the game then the 3-3 draw is the fair result. I want to win every game we play in but we gave top of the table a difficult afternoon which was good. It bodes well for next season."
When asked about his thoughts on Mickleover's season as a whole, McGrath said: "I think from the outside looking in, we probably are still a small club in that division but you know to be mid table, its deemed to be a good season. But us at the football club always want to be finishing higher."
Sports face struggling Basford United away tomorrow before finishing their season at home to Lancaster City FC next Saturday.
McGrath added: "Yes (I am confident). Just got to address a couple of niggly injuries. Having the lads play Saturday and Monday is a big ask and we are just waiting on a report from our physiotherapy team and see who is carrying knocks and niggles then we will pick a squad accordingly."