But Adams' attempt on goal was thwarted by Athletic keeper Matthew Calvert's anticipation and timing off his line, while Harris, who probably had the best first-half chance of either side, shanked his shot.
There were signs the derby-like tensions were going to boil over just before the halftime whistle, and the break had done nothing to cool things down when play resumed.
Gisborne's Liam Ryan was sent off after an off-the-ball shove to the face of Mailman, earning him a second yellow and subsequent red in the 50th minute.
With an extra-man advantage, Athletic's Burney boys - Scott and Steve - along with Mailman peppered the Gisborne goal but it was Jude Hiri who would eventually break the deadlock in the 67th minute.
A Steve Burney header hit the post and Hiri found himself in the right position to collect the rebound and finish the job.
But Burney only had to wait five more minutes to get the goal he deserved, neatly tucking one away from the middle of the box.
Ten minutes later Adams got the visitors back in the match, before Holden scored his 10th goal of the season to restore Athletic's two goal advantage three minutes from time.
Athletic coach Jason King said he was starting to get used to being a second half team.
"It was a bit like last weekend to be fair," he said.
"We played nicely and moved the ball but just at times not ruthless enough in the final third."
He was pleased the unbeaten home record remained intact.
"We didn't want to give it away today."
King felt even without Gisborne's red card his side would probably have squeezed out the win.
"Then again, they could've got there a couple of times too. It wasn't us dominating the game. In the end we took the chances that presented us.
"For both teams there seems to be something in this game.
"It's not a true derby. It's not even the longest trip but there just seems to be something in the game that both teams want it and it showed out there.
"It was a physical game and it did get testy."
King was pleased to see Hiri get on the score sheet again for the club's top side after his Chatham Cup goal earlier in the season.
"He did well to make the 1sts when he did and I've been looking for him to come out of his shell a little more.
"He finished that well and you could see it meant a lot to him and he changed after that. It was good to see him come out of his shell after that goal and start really taking on players."
Mailman was one of the standouts for Athletic but he now has five weeks out due to an overseas trip.
King hoped there would be players looking to take his spot.
"It is going to be a bit of a hole for us over the next five weeks because he is a certain type of player," King said.
"It does take a special player to be that positively aggressive."
The win keeps Athletic in second spot and puts another three points between themselves and Gisborne in fourth.
That allows Athletic to focus on their top three battle with top-of-the-table AFC Havelock North and New Plymouth Rangers in third, though both have games in hand on Athletic.
They travel to Palmerston North to take on second-to-bottom Breakers Red Sox Manawatu next weekend - the same ground and opposition they drew 0-0 last weekend.
