NEC Nijmegen eased their relegation worries after a hard-fought win over struggling De Graafschap.
Brett Holman put the home side in front after 33 minutes and Krisztian Vadocz doubled the lead three minutes after the restart.
De Graafschap had a lifeline when Niklas Tarvajarvi pulled one back on the hour mark, but Holman made the win secure 15 minutes from time to leave NEC nine points clear of the relegation play-off places, while De Graafschap are still just two points off the bottom three.
The home side came flying out of the traps and Youssef El Akchaoui's effort was only half-cleared with the rebound falling to Holman who fired over the bar.
The goal appeared to be coming and so it proved just after the half hour mark when El Akchaoui's cross found Holman who controlled superbly before firing in.
De Graafschap rarely threatened but they should have been level on the stroke of half-time when Girts Karlsons met Lasse Schone's cross and his shot from close range was superbly saved by Gabor Babos.
NEC made it 2-0 just after the restart as Vadocz played a neat one-two with Holman and finished into the bottom left-hand corner.
However, De Graafschap were back in the game in the 60th minute as Karlsons cross found Tarvajarvi who volleyed in despite the best attempts of Babos to keep it out.
With 15 minutes remaining Holman made the points safe with a wonderful volley inside the area following Jeremain Lens' pinpoint cross.
De Graafschap had a lifeline when Niklas Tarvajarvi pulled one back on the hour mark, but Holman made the win secure 15 minutes from time to leave NEC nine points clear of the relegation play-off places, while De Graafschap are still just two points off the bottom three.
The home side came flying out of the traps and Youssef El Akchaoui's effort was only half-cleared with the rebound falling to Holman who fired over the bar.
The goal appeared to be coming and so it proved just after the half hour mark when El Akchaoui's cross found Holman who controlled superbly before firing in.
De Graafschap rarely threatened but they should have been level on the stroke of half-time when Girts Karlsons met Lasse Schone's cross and his shot from close range was superbly saved by Gabor Babos.
NEC made it 2-0 just after the restart as Vadocz played a neat one-two with Holman and finished into the bottom left-hand corner.
However, De Graafschap were back in the game in the 60th minute as Karlsons cross found Tarvajarvi who volleyed in despite the best attempts of Babos to keep it out.
With 15 minutes remaining Holman made the points safe with a wonderful volley inside the area following Jeremain Lens' pinpoint cross.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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