Notts County gave their survival bid a major shot in the arm with a welcome 3-0 win at Stevenage.
All the goals came before the break and the on-song Magpies never looked back as they picked up a vital three points in their quest to avoid the dreaded drop to non-league football.
Goals from Jim O’Brien, Kane Hemmings and Enzio Boldewijn did the damage at the Lamex Stadium as County clinched back-to-back away wins for the first time since September 2017.
Neal Ardley’s charges began the day at the foot of the table but victory saw them leapfrog Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield, leaving themselves in the relegation zone only on goal difference and level with Yeovil.
Campbell’s Silkmen are just a point behind, with what could turn out to be a vital game in hand.
Ardley has just six games left to confirm the club’s league status next term after a torrid season at Meadow Lane, which has seen Kevin Nolan, and then Harry Kewell both leave the helm.
County were fighting for promotion last term but a calamitous campaign this time around has left them battling relegation.
Ardley’s appointment has seen an upturn in fortunes from the side that won just three league games before he came in.
The manager named just the one change to the side which fell to ten-man Exeter City last time out as Jon Stead replaced fellow veteran frontman Craig Mackail-Smith.
Visiting County got off to the perfect start as they dramatically took the lead inside 40 seconds.
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A bouncing ball fell kindly for O’Brien to lash home his second of the season via a deflection from 25-yards out.
Down the other end, a shell-shocked Stevenage tried to level from range themselves as Danny Newton fired over.
In the 19th minute, the returning Stead could only strike straight at Paul Farman after Mitch Rose did well in midfield.
Two minutes later, O’Brien turned provider as his well-weighted ball over the top found Hemming,s who buried the second past the on-rushing Farman.
Newton again failed to hit the target for Boro as he headed wide this time around.
On the half-hour mark, Stead forced a top low stop from Farman with his fizzing effort.
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Boldewijn made it three before the break as he smashed home after Stead fired the ball across the box.
Lightning almost struck twice as Boldewijn almost doubled his tally seconds after the resumption. This time around, goalie Farman kept the Dutch playmaker at bay at his near post.
After a stern half-time talking to from Dino Maamria, Stevenage tried to take advantage of their height.
County had to withstand a barrage of balls into the box as the hosts tried to force their way back into the game.
They almost pulled one back in fortunate fashion as a deflection off referee Andy Haines allowed substitute Emmanuel Sonupe the chance to shoot – but he could only fire wide.
Sam Stubbs got up well to head at Farman as the visitors pushed to add to their tally.
With around 20 minutes left, Ryan Schofield made his first save of the afternoon to turn Ilias Chair’s shot behind to his left.
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Ardley made a double swap with ten minutes to go as Stead and scorer Boldewijn came off to a standing ovation from the visiting fans as Pierce Bird and Mackail-Smith replaced them.
Mitch Rose came close to breaking his County duck in stoppage time, only for Farman to pull off a decent stop.
With hope renewed, the Magpies now turn their attentions to Northampton’s visit to Meadow Lane in seven days’ time.
