Gateshead's 'Great Escape' has not sunk in for manager Rob Elliot
Gateshead will play National League football once again next season after they claimed a 1-0 win at Aldershot Town on Saturday.
Rob Elliot hailed a ‘collective effort’ from Gateshead as they officially put the seal on their ‘Great Escape’ from relegation with a hard-earned win at Aldershot Town on Saturday.
The Heed made the long trip to Hampshire knowing a win would be enough to preserve their National League status after a remarkable turnaround in fortunes over the last two months. A narrow home defeat against Brackley Town in mid-February left Elliot’s side 11 points adrift at the bottom of non-league’s top tier and a return to the National League North appeared almost inevitable.
However, a long-awaited win at FC Halifax Town triggered a stunning upturn in fortunes as the Heed lost just two of their following 14 games and that run was extended as a Harry Chapman goal was enough to land the most precious of three points against Aldershot as Elliot and his players were able to celebrate a miraculous escape from relegation with two games remaining in a season that has polarised the emotions.
Speaking after the full-time whistle on Saturday, former Newcastle United goalkeeper Elliot told The Echo: “We needed to bring fresh faces in just to shake up the place in January. That was a conscious decision and the lads that have stayed have bought into the process and have been huge for us. You can’t really put all of this on one person to be honest with you, it’s been a collective effort from everyone at the club. Everyone has played their part over the course of a two or three months and I am not singling anyone out at all because I can’t overvalue or undervalue what anyone has done.
“I think, even today, bringing on Joe Grayson and Ty Newton, who have been injured, that was huge because they have played a part too. Everyone has played a part, it’s a been a group effort and every single person can be proud of the effort they have put in and they have all contributed to get us to where we want to be. It hasn’t really sunk in yet but it’s a special moment for the club.”
The Heed will now focus their attention on their preparations for next weekend’s home game with Jermain Defoe’s Woking.
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