Mike Williamson hails his Gateshead side after win over table-topping Gloucester City

The Tigers arrived at the International Stadium looking to preserve an unbeaten record that had taken them seven points clear at the top of the National League North table.

However, their trip to Tyneside was made without manager James Rowe after news broke that he was set to take over at National League strugglers Chesterfield.

Despite that obvious distraction, his former side still provided Gateshead with a severe test as the two sides emerged for the second-half with the game still goalless after a surprisingly scrappy opening 45 minutes.

But it was the Heed that claimed a second home win inside three days after Danny Greenfield’s volley his side move into the play-off places.

Williamson admitted that his side struggled to get going during the first-half but praised them for their response to his request for more quality after the restart.

He told The Echo: “It was a hard-fought win, and it was a real battling performance from us.

“In the first-half, we just didn’t click, our passing game didn’t get going and we didn’t make the right decisions when we got into the final third.

“But at half-time, it was all about being positive with the lads.

“There was nothing we could say that would have surprised them because they knew what they hadn’t done during the first-half.

“We needed quality against their pressing, we needed to get the ball moving quicker and they couldn’t get near us when we did that.

“It’s a big win for us and we did well to take something from a very good side.”

Match-winner Greenfield also received praise from the former Newcastle United defender after his first goal for the club helped them edge a tight contest.

“Danny has been brilliant, and I’ve only got good things to say about him,” explained Williamson.

“He’s done extremely well since he came back, and he is improving so much.

“We have given him a new contract and told him that he will get opportunities in the side.

“He has grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, and he has so much ability.”

Next up for Gateshead is a trip to fellow play-off challengers Chester on Saturday.