Jon McCarthy was in triumphant mood after Chester FC beat Grimsby Town 2-1 to guarantee themselves National League football next season.
Caretaker boss McCarthy and club captain Ian Sharps have steered the Blues to safety with back-to-back wins and the pair's claims to replace Steve Burr on a permanent basis are growing ever stronger.
Despite a late Craig Disley effort, goals from John Rooney and Ryan Astles made it two wins from three under McCarthy following on from last weekend's 4-0 success against Welling United.
But the managerial position took a back-seat after the game with the focus instead centered on an excellent victory and team performance with every player making an impressive contribution.
McCarthy was thrilled the game-plan was executed in such an effective manner and that the Blues had taken matters into their hands meaning wins for Boreham Wood and FC Halifax Town elsewhere did not matter.
"We took charge of things, we took charge of our destiny and we'd spoke about that," said McCarthy.
"There has been a belief and we know we'd done our work so there's been a calmness and almost a confidence about us when we get to the ground and we feel like we've planned everything and organised.
READ: Jim Green's verdict on the 2-1 win at Blundell Park
"The players had a plan and credit to them, and that's what myself and Ian are delighted with, because they stuck to it from minute one to the end and after about 20 minutes of the game we came under a bit of pressure from Grimsby and that was the bit that we almost needed them to learn out on the pitch and they did.
"We came thought and things went in our favour in the second-half and we'd talked about being able to go one and win the game and grasping that moment and realising that as a team you can come to places like Grimsby and get a result, and that's big for Chester Football Club.
"That's what we've been trying to get to over the last couple of years. That's a big performance now and players know how to do it and know that they can do it so I'm really pleased for the whole group and that they've done it in that manner too because Grimsby needed points.
"Coming here I'm guessing there a lot of people thinking we've got that Welling result let's hope the other teams don't win. I think that's what most people were thinking but that wasn't where we were at in the group and to come here and win in that manner is really pleasing because I think we were the better team.
READ: Recap from our live blog as Chester secure their National League status
"Grimsby had some pressure in the first-half but I think when you look at some of the chances we created in the second-half we're a little bit disappointed at how we conceded the goal towards the end of the game because I'd have liked them to have the clean-sheet that the shape, the structure, the desire and the work-rate deserved."
During the week, the players were given a seven-page document outlining Grimsby's strengths, weaknesses and probable starting XI.
McCarthy explained he and Sharps had used this as the basis for training in preparation for the game and was pleased to see the team taking that on board.
Although there were good performances across the park, he praised the contributions of goalscorers Astles and Rooney in particular.
IN PICTURES: Action from Chester's victory at Blundell Park
McCarthy said: "We talked a lot about us wanting them to kick long. I went and watched them on Tuesday and we talked about Jon Nolan coming and having the ball short and we didn't want him to have it and Tom Shaw stopped it every time and we didn't want the left-back to have it and then they'd have to kick the ball long and we want our two centre-halves to win every first header and that's what they did.
"Every cross that came in Ryan Astles seemed to be there or Ben Heneghan and then to go the other end and put the icing on the cake Ryan gets on the end of one and Ben nearly does afterwards to cap that off so Ryan just edges it because he got the goal
"John Rooney had a thigh strain and probably shouldn't have trained Thursday but he keeps it a secret and doesn't tell you and then he goes and puts in that performance.
"His attitude is infectious and when there's key moments, and I look back to Wrexham earlier in the season and Welling where he misses a penalty and then goes and get you two goals and then here, and there's things we work on because John is one who needs the shape and the structure for then his talent to show.
"We need to give him that and then say 'do what you want when you get the ball'. He will make mistakes in terms of giving the ball away and put more balls over the bar but that's because he sees a different picture to other people and he can go and produce the moments that go and win the games and he's done it again."
