Bouyant boss Colin Addison hailed the spirit of his fighting Seasiders as Scarborough took a giant stride towards safety with a 3-0 hammering of Plymouth Argyle.

The win, courtesy of a Chris Tate brace and another poacher's goal from pint-sized Steve Brodie, saw Boro climb off the foot of Division Three for only the second time since Christmas. And victory on Saturday at home to Peterborough means Football League status will be assured for another season at the McCain Stadium.

"That has got to have been our best performance of the season without a doubt," said a delighted Addison. "We have still got it all to do but it was a magnificent display. We showed tremendous spirit, played positive attacking football and in very difficult circumstances.

"If we had won by five, six or seven goals I do not think Plymouth could have complained."

The Pilgrims, who play Boro's relegation rivals Carlisle United on Saturday, arrived at the McCain Stadium needing a win if they were to maintain their feint hopes of securing a play-off place.

But those hopes were shattered inside two minutes when Darren Roberts left Argyle skipper Mick Heathcote flat-footed on the by-line with a delightful turn.

His cross found Brodie who planted his header past James Dungey from just six yards.Plymouth full-back Jon Beswetherick saw his long range drive shave the Boro upright before Mark Sale seemed certain to level matters when he rose unmarked to meet Steve McCall's floated free-kick. But the towering striker, on loan from former Boro boss Mick Wadsworth's Colchester, inexplicably failed to connect.

The second-half was all Scarborough with Roberts and Tate linking up again only for the former Darlington striker to blaze his volley into the side netting.

Tate then headed wide from just six-yards before Brodie should have bagged his 13th goal of the season after he was sent racing clear by Ben Worrall's hook forward. The impish striker-cum-midfielder took the ball in his stride but drove his shot wide of the post.

Plymouth rarely threatened, but the fear was Scarborough would be made to pay for their profligacy.

Tate saw a point blank effort parried by Dungey, while another snap-shot from the one-time Sunderland man was also well-saved by the Argyle 'keeper.

But the in-form striker was just finding his range and on 74 minutes he made no mistake after being slipped in by Graeme Atkinson to fire home form eight yards.

Two minutes later and he bagged his second of the match and 12th of the season when he beat Dungey at the third attempt after being sent clear by Worrall.

With victory sealed, Tate was threatening to run riot and looked to have scored his second hat-trick in as many months when he found the net for the third time in just four minutes. But his glory was denied when referee Scott Matheison ruled out the goal for an foul on the 'keeper.

No matter, Boro were not to be denied their win. Saturday promises to be a nerve-jangling final day of the season.

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