MOSSLEY 2, BOOTLE 0
Eric Yahaya’s double against Bootle took Mossley beyond 50 points and nine clear of the relegation places with only four matches left.
The three priceless points leaves the Lilywhites, who had lost their three previous matches to leave them looking nervously over their shoulders, safe barring a catastrophic sequence of results.
“It was a huge win, and we badly needed three points,” explained manager David Fish.
“We should be safe with 52 points – I thought 50 all along would be sufficient to stay up.”
Fish, who maintained his side was unlucky to lose two of the three previous matches against Wythenshawe FC and Kidsgrove Athletic, added: “We have not been playing terribly and did enough to win both those games.
“We had a good week’s training which was what we wanted going into this important match.
“We worked hard in and out of possession and I don’t think Finn [Madigan] had a shot to save.”
Fish was happy for Yahaya whose brace took his season’s tally to nine goals.
He continued: “I was pleased for Eric who helps us defend corners and does everything right up to 18 yards from goal.
“He just hasn’t had the rub of the green in front of goal.”
Mossley made the breakthrough in the 12th minute when they won a penalty after visiting goalkeeper Tony Thompson, once Altrincham’s number one, brought down Yahaya as he burst through on goal.
Yahaya picked himself up to send Thompson the wrong way from the spot.
There was a lull until late in the half when there was an abundance of action from the 38th minute onwards.
Mossley almost conceded an equaliser following a poor defensive clearance as Ben Hodkinson’s drive from 25 yards clipped the top of the bar.
Yahaya doubled the lead in the 44th minute with a close-range header into the roof of the net from Joseph Berk’s corner.
And in stoppage time, Berks delivered another great corner which saw Michael Brewster glance a header narrowly wide.
Hodkinson had a shot easily tipped over the bar by Madigan within two minutes of the restart and that was about the sum total of the second-half action.
Mossley defended resolutely – they were not going to surrender a two-goal advantage at any cost – and Bootle lacked nous in the final third of the pitch which in the end meant it was a comfortable 2-0 victory.