Gateshead beat Aldershot 1-0 on Saturday to complete an unlikely escape from relegation and preserve their National League status
Gateshead players celebrate during their win over Aldershot
Gateshead players celebrate during their win over Aldershot(Image: Jack McGrahan/Gateshead FC)
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From Mission Impossible to The Great Escape - Gateshead’s own remarkable survival story came to a successful end with a 1-0 win at Aldershot Town that secured their National League status against the odds.
Rob Elliot’s side were 11 points from safety after suffering a home defeat against fellow National League strugglers Brackley Town in mid-February - but a stunning upturn in form means the Heed have preserved their place in the National League for another season.
A win against the Shots was always going to be enough to the Tynesiders and they did their part as another goal from Harry Chapman extended their run of form to just two defeats in 15 games and ensured they have survived with room to spare.
Along the way, Elliot’s men have not just beaten sides in and around them at the bottom end of the table, they have bloodied the noses of promotion contenders after beating title favourites York City at the International Stadium and claiming four points from Bank Holiday weekend clashes with play-off challengers Scunthorpe United and Carlisle United.
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Such was his determination to see the job through, Heed boss Elliot refused to discuss survival being a formality despite Monday’s win against Scunthorpe taking his side to the brink of avoiding relegation.
But that all changed once the full-time whistle was blown at Aldershot Town’s EBB Stadium on Saturday as Elliot praised the mentality shown by his players as they ensured they will be mixing it with non-league football’s elite once again next season.
The former Newcastle United goalkeeper told Chronicle Live: "It was less than two months ago when we lost to Brackley and we were all of those points behind so we aren’t talking about four or five months here.
"We are talking about two months here for the turnaround and to do it the way we have done it and get the results we have, it’s been incredible.
"The mentality of the team is amazing. Even after today, they’ve come off the pitch disappointed that they haven’t played as well as they felt they should and that speaks volumes.
"Getting over the line is huge, to get it done with two games to play is outstanding and the lads deserve to breathe and look forward to next year."
If a long-awaited win at FC Halifax Town was the catalyst for a successful bid for survival, it was the home win against title contenders York City that sent belief surging through everyone connected with the Heed.
Hard earned wins against Yeovil Town and Wealdstone only added to the unstoppable momentum and Saturday’s win at Aldershot means next Saturday’s final home game of the season against Jermain Defoe’s Woking should be a day of celebration of a job well done.
However, for Elliot, there is a need for the belief to be taken into the summer and beyond as thoughts quickly turn towards what could be achieved when the new season kicks off in August.
"They’ve competed with clubs at the top of this league, it hasn’t just been a case of surviving because there is only York that have been in better form than us and we beat them," he explained.
"We’ve only lost to two teams in the play-offs and that was Boreham Wood and Forest Green since the Brackley game and we’ve shown up well against the very best in the league.
"That’s the thing we have to take forward now, we have to take that into next year. We won’t get carried away, it’s about approaching next season properly and carrying this mentality and belief into next season.
"The sky is the limit for this team. We have to believe that and show that in every game."
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