Penrith have moved out of the relegation zone in Northern League Division One for the first time in weeks.
But chairman Billy Williams admitted he has not many fingernails left after the 1-0 home win over fellow strugglers Northallerton.
“It was a hard watch in the second half because we were hanging on and to get the three points was a great relief.
“We played well in the first half but weren’t so comfortable after half-time when our keeper Aaron Taylor had a bit more to do.
“The main thing is we won, because it’s looking like any two from four down at the bottom, and we desperately want to stay up,” he said.
Penrith won it with a well-taken goal by Greg McCaragher on 25 minutes, his first since joining the club after Christmas. He had played for Penrith manager Chris Humphrey at Kendal Town before spending time with Widnes.
There was a home debut, too, for Charlie Birch the former Carlisle United youth team player who had also spent time with Humphrey at Kendal.
Twenty minutes from the end Penrith also gave a debut to Carl Lightfoot who has joined them on dual registration from Workington.
“We are a very young side, mainly 19 and 20 year-olds apart from goalkeeper Aaron Taylor and our long-serving centre-half Grant Davidson.
“Looking at the other teams in the relegation dog fight we have played Northallerton, home and away, but still have to go to Bishop Auckland and play Billingham Town at home.
“The biggest disappointment was playing Redcar at home when they had lost six in a row but they came to us and won,” said Williams.
Penrith are back in action on Saturday when they travel to West Auckland who have improved dramatically as the season has developed and now sit seventh in the table. At the weekend, however, they lost 2-1 at home to Seaham Red Star who are 13th.
