Atherton Collieries handed their survival chances a huge boost, recording a 2-1 victory over Guiseley in an impressive outing at the Skuna Stadium.
Marcus Cusani notched the hosts in with Jay Fitzmartin firing home after the break, before former-Colls man Scott Bakkor added a late consolation for the visitors.
Brad Cooke made two changes to the team that faced Matlock just two days earlier, Jay Fitzmartin and Ben Hardcastle both coming back to the fore as Colls chased a long-overdue win.
After a heavy pre-match downpour the action got underway, Courtney Meppen-Walters flashing a header wide for the visitors with the first chance of the afternoon.
It was Colls who made the breakthrough, Marcus Cusani getting the slightest of touches to help Adam Rooney's header over the line following Jay Fitzmartin's in-swinging corner.
Cusani could have doubled his tally soon after, a bouncing ball presenting itself kindly but the winger's effort was tame and provided straightforward work for Morgan Bacon in the Guiseley goal.
From there it remained one-way traffic, with Rooney and Cusani both seeing attempts thwarted on the line following a goalmouth scramble which could have seen Colls cruising at the break.
The second goal came just minutes into the second half, Jay Fitzmartin racing onto Adam Rooney's ball from deep and dispatching confidently into the bottom corner to double Colls' advantage.
With the game slipping away, Guiseley turned to ex-Colls man Scott Bakkor from the bench, the substitute creating a golden chance for Lewis Hay who nodded wide of Mackenzie Chapman's goal on the hour.
Bakkor would eventually bite the hand that fed, albeit deep into stoppage time, slotting home a late consolation with virtually the last kick of the game.
In the end, it was a richly-deserved victory for Colls and favourable results elsewhere will give them confidence they can get the job done as they head into the final two games of the season.
Colls are back in action on Saturday, as they welcome Whitby Town to the Skuna Stadium for their final home outing of 2022/23. Kick off 3pm.
Colls: Chapman, Rooney, Peet (Ebosele 84'), Amado, Lafferty, Sephton, Hardcastle, Lingouba, Cusani, Lenehan (Pettifer 77'), Fitzmartin (Thompson 68')
Unused: Smith
Report: Danny Brown
Photo: Dave Featherstone
