The result lifts the club off the foot of the table for the first time since round six, unbeaten in three matches after draws with Fernhill and Albion Park.

“It’s a very good feeling and I think it’s been a long time coming,” Valic said.

“I think it is just rewards for a fantastic effort and a fantastic effort over the last three weeks.”

Young gun Josh Brookes gave United an early lead at Memorial Park before veteran striker Anton Batur sealed the victory late on.

“They had a lot of the ball but we were good enough at limiting their chances… and we were good enough on the break. We were fantastic today I thought,” he said.

“We are aware of our position in the League and it’s tough to play the football you want to play when you have that in the back of your mind.

“Last week we were really nervous, we had the lead for a long time but we let them [Fernhill] back into the game, today we were good enough to see it out.

“Hopefully we can continue to positive results, the positive football and hopefully we leave it all in our hands.”

United are a point ahead of last-placed Picton who they meet in a fortnight’s time in a match with huge ramifications on who will be playing top flight football in 2019. Before that United face an unenviable trip to top of the table Bulli.

It comes after Bulli extended their league lead to four points with a 2-nil victory over Fernhill on Sunday, after Wollongong United left North Wollongong PCYC with a nil-all stalemate against Olympic. Adding to the intrigue of a dramatic season, Port Kembla moved closer to securing a finals spot by beating Tarrawanna.

Ladder: BULLI 41 (+44), WOLLONGONG OLYMPIC 37 (+38), ALBION PARK 35 (+25), WOLLONGONG UNITED 31 (+18), PORT KEMBLA 28 (+4), Tarrawanna 23 (+5), Corrimal 20 (-3), Fernhill 18 (-27), Cringila 17 (-4), Woonona 11 (-24), South Coast United 6 (-31), Picton 5 (-45).