RONNIE MOORE admits keeping Hartlepool United in the Football League is up there with his greatest achievements in football.

The boss is closing in on 1000 games as a manager, but few have given him as much pleasure as beating Exeter City 2-1 at Victoria Park to avoid dropping into the Conference.

Dead and buried and set for the drop for most of the campaign, Pools have somehow found the spirit and ability to stay out of the bottom two.

Defeats for Tranmere, Moore’s old club, and Cheltenham sent those sides down and Pools can go to Carlisle for the final game of the season in party mode.

Moore, who played down the notion he would be named manager of the year for League Two, admitted: “What a fantastic day, a long second half and they have gave everything. I said from day one we had to give it all.

“The strikers were awesome. Exeter had possession, but in front of us not in behind.

“We gave away a sloppy goal, the story of our season. Exeter played football, but we defended well when we had to.

“The sort of performance I want – do that and we wouldn’t have been in a mess.’’

Strikers Scott Fenwick and Jordan Hugill got the goals and Moore admitted: “We played two up top, to put pressure on them at the back and stop them playing and two wingers worked it.’’

Pools finished before their rivals and faced an anxious wait to determine the outcome, but Victoria Park erupted when confirmation arrived.

Moore added: “I asked before anything was going on and people said both had lose – I was made up and then you can look like aright pratt. It was only in the tunnel we found they were still playing... never wracking.

“But the Gods were smiling on us, it’s a tremendous achievement from everyone. Sam and me have a great understanding.

“It’s unreal, the staff is fantastic and they all support Hartlepool. I felt Buster was going to have a heart-attack!

“But it’s, for me, as a manager, you can’t better that. We are celebrating not going down, you want to celebrate at the other end.

“Look what’s happened here, it’s outstanding. I’ve the same feeling as back to back promotions with Rotherham, but this tops it.

 “I was dreading going to Carlisle and we can do with 2,000 fans and enjoy it.’’