JOHN Coleman has had some important wins in his eight year Accrington Stanley tenure - but he reckons Saturday's victory over Peterborough topped them all.
There have been some glorious three-point matches which have taken the Reds up through the non-league ranks but the first season in League Two has been tough.
And that's why Coleman hailed the win over Posh as "the biggest of his career" as it gave the Reds some breathing space from the drop zone and went some way to stopping Stanley's fairytale rise back into the Football League becoming a short-lived disaster.
Coleman's joy when a determined Andy Todd struck the ball home in the final minutes could be seen for everyone as he ran on the pitch and hugged the nearest Stanley player.
"It was like a relief," said the smiling boss. "The weird thing is that Toddy has gone through a brick wall for us and he was out on his feet.
"A minute before that I was going to take him off, but he found an ounce of strength from somewhere and he got the winner.
"You need players like that who will give their all and stand up and be counted."
And Coleman also singled out Andy Procter for special praise after the midfielder ran himself into the ground, charging forward and back for Stanley's cause.
"I thought our whole ethic was epitomised by Andy Procter. He was magnificent and I said in the changing rooms, I would kill anyone who got Man of the Match and didn't hand it straight over to Procky.
"It was an outstanding midfield performance by him and he is getting stronger and stronger every game he plays and he drove us on.
"But I have a great set of lads here who have got an unshakable belief in themselves and a willingness to work hard and go for 93 minutes.
"I take my hat off to the lads, they couldn't have given anymore whatever the score."
Coleman had stressed the need to turn on the style at home with just three games at the FES prior to Saturday left and all billed as "must win matches."
But Peterborough, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson's son Darren, were themselves making a charge for the play-offs and have spent a reasonable amount of money in doing so with many familiar Conference names among their squad.
However, it was the Reds, who had Sean Doherty making a rare start in the absence of the injured Shaun Whalley, who started off all guns blazing.
Rommy Boco, supporting a new braided hair style, was unlucky to fire a shot inches wide in the first minute before Todd stunned the numerous Posh fans by tricking his way past Shane Blackett and drilling the ball beyond keeper Mark Tyler for the opening goal on two minutes.
It was the start Stanley needed and it could have got better.
There was some great intricate play as the Reds poured forwards in numbers with Boco showing his repertoire of tricks.
His powerful strike was parried away by Tyler while Procter had a free header which was just off target.
Then Boco's back flick set up Doherty who sprinted through on goal but was again denied by the Posh keeper.
Stanley were the dominant force but they needed to convert their chances into goals and they were made to pay for wasting opportunities two minutes before the break.
Ex-Stevenage striker George Boyd's looping header was touched onto the crossbar by Stanley keeper David Martin and it bounced down for former Dagenham frontman Craig Mackail-Smith to touch over the line from four yards out.
It could have signalled disaster for Stanley but instead they managed to have a say in injury time in the first half.
Boco worked his magic on the right wing, getting the better of the bewildered Blackett, and played in a perfect cross to the near post where probably the smallest player on the pitch, Jay Harris, was waiting to head home.
It was a goal at an influential time just before the break but the Reds backline were once again caught out once nine minutes after the re-start.
Stanley failed to clear their lines as the ball bobbled around the area and Boyd crossed across the area to the unmarked Josh Low and he planted it beyond the stranded Martin.
At 2-2 it could have gone either way and it seemed the tide was turning against the Reds when powerful defender Godwin Antwi hobbled off injured.
But Michael Welch proved a more than adequate replacement and the Reds continued to press forward. Procter was guilty of a glaring miss when he headed a golden chance wide on 64 minutes.
Then sub Welch got his head to a Todd corner and Tyler did really well to steer the ball around the post.
The ball just didn't want to go in the net for the Reds and there was more agony when Paul Mullin hit the bar and Boco's follow up was somehow cleared off the line.
But then, on 90 minutes, Blackett's poor header fell nicely to Todd and he went on one of his surging runs. He made his way into the area, evaded a number of challenges and then tapped the ball past Tyler and celebrated - although picked up a booking for his troubles.
"It would have been a traversty if we hadn't taken anything out of the game but to get all three points is a great performance," said Coleman. "We gave our all in terms of commitment and effort and you can't ask for more.
"It is the biggest win of my career - the most important - and let's hope it isn't going to be the last."
