Hereford United and Exeter City shared the honours in an exciting encounter in front of the Sky TV cameras at Edgar Street.
Rob Purdie fired Hereford in front with a flashing 20-yard drive seven minutes after the interval, but veteran Steve Flack levelled for the Grecians 21 minutes later.
But as Hereford pressed in the final stages, Exeter goalkeeper James Bittner was sent off for a flying challenge on Hereford's Paul Parry outside the penalty area.
Hereford almost grabbed a goal on five minutes when Parry, who was being watched again by Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence, raced on to a weakly-hit backpass by Scott Hiley but although he beat Bittner to the ball he guided his shot wide of the upright.
Purdie and Ben Smith were both foiled by last-gasp challenges as Hereford continued to have the better of the early play, but as the half ended the Grecians came more into the game and created chances of their own.
James Coppinger fired inches wide after intercepting a poor Danny Williams pass and the Exeter midfielder then saw another fine effort tipped over by Matt Baker.
Hereford were quickly back into their stride at the start of the second period and it was no surprise when they took the lead. Smith won a block tackle and Purdie fired the loose ball into the corner of the net.
Flack missed a golden chance to level when he received a pass from Coppinger unmarked and three yards out, but somehow hit the bar.
Six minutes later he found the target however, netting off his thigh after his initial effort from Reinier Moor's cross had also hit the woodwork.
"It was one of those shots which either ends up in the corner of the net or flies out of the ground," Purdie said of his goal. "While I was pleased with it, I would have been much more pleased with three points."