YORK City have secured Football League safety with three fixtures still to play following a 2-1 win over Morecambe.

A 35-yard thunderbolt by skipper Russell Penn wrapped up the victory at Bootham Crescent after Stephane Zubar had earlier cancelled out Paul Mullin’s tenth-minute opener for the visitors.

Victory means the Minstermen have taken 14 points from a possible 18 to stave off the season-long threat of relegation and delighted manager Russ Wilcox admitted: “It’s fantastic and a big weight off everybody’s shoulders.

“It’s been a tough season so, to get over the line with three games left to play, is an outstanding achievement from everybody and the important thing is we have done it ourselves and not had to rely on other teams. We have gone on a terrific run at the right time with four wins and two draws in six games, which has seen us home and dry.

“Now I want to carry that on in our last three games to take some impetus into next season.”

City recovered from a poor start to dominate after the interval and, delivering his post-match assessment, Wilcox added: “We were awful for the first ten minutes and gave the ball away to them so many times.

“We looked nervous and the atmosphere was a bit flat but maybe them scoring gave us the jolt we needed because the second-half performance was outstanding.”

Wilcox also paid tribute to captain Penn for his stunning strike that the City boss believes might now go on to receive recognition at the end-of-season awards evening.

“It was an incredible goal,” the Bootham Crescent chief said of Penn’s 51st-minute blockbuster. “I won’t say it’s a once-in-a-career strike but it could be.

“He was 35 yards out and it flew into the top corner. There’s probably not been a better goal all season.

“We’ve already been putting a DVD together of the best ones for the presentation night but he might just have pinched that award now and I’m pleased for Russ because, as captain of the club, he has carried a lot of the weight on his shoulders. He has to lead the club and he’s done that superbly.”

City, meanwhile, will be without Dave Winfield for the next two matches with the centre-back beginning his three-game suspension against Morecambe after his appeal against Saturday’s red card against Hartlepool was turned down.