FC UNITED got their UniBond Premier Division promotion bid firmly back on track with a comfortable 2-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Leigh Genesis in front of a crowd of 1,302.
But the rebel Reds, who were desperate to bounce back from their agonising last-gasp defeat at Witton, had to wait until two minutes from time to secure the win.
Jamie Baguley was on hand to clinch their fourth victory in five games with a 25-yard screamer.
Jerome Wright had given United a 15th minute lead when he drilled home from just inside the box.
But, despite dominating throughout, Karl Marginson's men were unable to kill off plucky Genesis, who were playing for the first time at their new Leigh Sports Village ground, until Baguley finally settled the issue with time running out.
The win takes United to within a point of a play-off place ahead of Saturday's crunch home clash with fellow promotion contenders Guiseley.
2 Liam Foster
3 Simon Garner
4 Chris Baguley
5 Adam Turner
6 Rob Nugent(captain)
7 Adam Carden
8 Simon Carden
9 Kyle Wilson
10 Jerome Wright
11 Tommy Turner
Subs Used
12 Carlos Roca(for 2, 66 mins)
14 Nick Robinson(for 11, 73 mins)
15 Dave Neville(for 4, 48 mins)
Attendance 1302
Scorers Wright 17, J Baguley 69