Marc McGrath fires home Saints’ second goal in their 4-3 win over Bels on Saturday. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0892372)

Luke Winch scored a stunning 25-yard winner in the 82nd minute of an entertaining encounter to ensure that Colin Fallaize and his men will have a very happy Christmas.

‘In this period Boxing Day is going to be a toss up [depending on which players are available], so the match with Rangers last week and this game were going to be huge for us,’ said the Saints boss.

‘If we had dropped points at Rangers and here, a tremendous gap would have opened up and we would probably have been out of it.

‘Now, irrespective of what happens on Boxing Day, we will be in touch going into the new year.’

The result was harsh on Neil Le Cheminant, who scored an excellent hat-trick for Bels, but the hosts were deserving of the three points.

Marc McGrath scored two of their goals against his former teammates, one from the penalty spot, after skipper Matt Warren had given them an early lead.

‘I thought we thoroughly deserved it,’ Fallaize said.