FOOTBALL CONFERENCE PLAYOFF FIXTURES
| Wed 30-Apr | 19:45 | HALIFAX TOWN | 1-0 | CAMBRIDGE UNITED | 3668 | |
| Thu 01-May | 19:45 | GRIMSBY TOWN | 1-1 | GATESHEAD | 5234 | |
| Sun 04-May | 13:30 | CAMBRIDGE UNITED | 2-0 | HALIFAX TOWN | (2-1) | 6262 |
| Sun 04-May | 16:30 | GATESHEAD | 3-1 | GRIMSBY TOWN | (4-2) | 8114 |
GATESHEAD extended their season and gave hope to a possible first ever Wembley trip after a highest finish in the English football pyramid for 54 years.
The Heed beat Cambridge United 2-0 at International Stadium in front of a crowd of 2,916 to end the regular season in the Football Conference in third, setting up a two-legged playoff tie against Grimsby Town.
It is one heck of an achievement for Gateshead who now have a real chance of regaining a place in the Football League for the first time since being harshly voted out in 1960.
Seeking re-election for the first time, the Tynesiders were kicked out in favour of Oldham Athletic, who were applying for a second year running, and Southport - who were making a third successive application.
Hartlepool United gained a fourth reprieve while Peterborough United - far more geographically-friendly for the southern-dominated Football League - took Gateshead's place.
Ever since, even to get back this far, the road has been long and torturous, featuring two liquidations in 1973 and 1977.
As recently as 2003-04, Gateshead were playing in the eighth tier of the English football system before restructuring and two successive playoff promotions under Ian Bogie put the Heed back in Conference in 2009.
Becoming full-time professionals in 2010-11, Gateshead finished a stable 14th then fell just short of the playoffs in 2011-12.
Last season was a more difficult campaign however, and Bogie was relieved of his duties as Heed eventually came 17th.
This season also looked like it would be another disappointment after just one point from the first 15 and the early resignation of Anth Smith.
But experienced former York City manager Gary Mills took over and soon strung a run together of six wins in seven to take the Tynesiders into the top half.
Indeed, Gateshead were beaten just four times in the league from November onwards, although too many draws in December and January, and two costly-looking defeats in February had left the Heed adrift.
With two months left, it was a clear case of either letting a half-decent season fizzle out or going for as many wins as possible and seeing where it got them.
Thankfully, the Heed took the latter option, finishing the season unbeaten in 12, with a run that included five straight wins.
Successive draws against Braintree Town and against Southport on Good Friday had left the Tynesiders' fate still in the balance.
But it also remained in their own hands - and a win against Macclesfield Town on Easter Monday left Gateshead needing just a point to guarantee a top-five spot.
Mills' men did better than that, victory over long-time Conference pacesetters Cambridge ensuring a home tie in the second leg on Sunday.
Two weeks after that, the playoff semi final winners will step out in the Final at Wembley. There is much work to be done against Grimsby, of course, but it would be Gateshead's first ever appearance at the National Stadium.
It would also be a much-merited reward for the only professional club in the north east to have approached this season with any sense of positivity.
Yes, Sunderland have already been to Wembley for the League Cup final (which they lost) - but the Black Cats have also been embroiled in another season-long relegation battle.
Newcastle United did have some hope earlier in the campaign - the Magpies sat sixth after thumping Stoke City 5-1 on Boxing Day.
But the sale of Yohan Cabaye and the absence due to injury and suspension of the club's only genuine goalscorer - the on-loan Loic Remy - has a precipitated a drift into the middle of the pack on the back of a record-breaking string of increasingly-depressing defeats.
As for Middlesbrough - remember them? Well, the Boro will finish their Championship season in 12th or 13th, and must prepare in the summer for a sixth consecutive campaign outside the top flight.
Gateshead, then - after their own slow start - have provided north east football with a wonderful breath of fresh air, battling and often succeeding against the very best in their division.
Two steps away from Wembley and just three from the Football League. Ho'way the Heed!
THE CONTENDERS
2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (P46 W23 D13 L10 F72 A35 Pts 82)
Manager Richard Money (since October 2012)
Top scorer Luke Berry (12)
Form WDWWWWLLLL (16 points)
Record vs Halifax Town (H) won 5-1 on 11-Aug, (A) drew 1-1 on 18-Jan
Record vs Gateshead (H) won 1-0 on 14-Sep, (A) lost 0-2 on 26-Apr
Most recent Football League season 2004-05
Pacesetters Cambridge led the Conference until the turn of the year - and, even after losing the lead to eventual champions Luton Town, still look like they may still chase the Hatters for the automatic spot. However, a damaging run of four defeats in six ended any such hopes - and, though a nine-game unbeaten run followed, the Us actually ended the season on the back of four defeats. Favourites they may still be - but Richard Money's men enter these playoffs horribly out of form.
3 GATESHEAD (P46 W22 D13 L11 F72 A50 Pts 79)
Manager Gary Mills (since September 2013)
Top scorer James Marwood (11)
Form DWWWWWDDWW (24 points)
Record vs Grimsby Town (H) lost 1-2 on 13-Aug, (A) drew 2-2 on 18-Jan
Most recent Football League season 1959-60
Gateshead recovered from taking just one point out of their first 15 by climbing gradually up the league under new manager Gary Mills. Nevertheless, too many draws in December and January, and two costly-looking defeats in February had left the Heed adrift - but an unbeaten run of 12, including five straight wins, means the bookies' outsiders are actually the most in-form team of these four with goals spread all around the team.
4 GRIMSBY TOWN (P46 W22 D12 L12 F65 A46 Pts 78)
Manager Paul Hurst (solely since September 2013)
Top scorer Ross Hannah (13)
Form WWWDLWLDWD (18 points)
Record vs Gateshead (A) won 2-1 on 13-Aug, (H) drew 2-2 on 18-Jan
Most recent Football League season 2009-10
Grimsby Town began the season with two managers in charge, Paul Hurst and Rob Scott, before the latter was dismissed for gross misconduct. Nonetheless, the former has not done too badly on his own, overcoming the early-season upset to lead the club into the playoffs for a second year in a row. Things did not look too clever after defeat to Southport in late-February left the Mariners down in ninth - but, while never hitting top form, Grimsby lost just four times thereafter.
5 FC HALIFAX TOWN (P46 W22 D11 L13 F85 A58 Pts 77)
Manager Neil Aspin (since April 2009)
Top scorer Lee Gregory (29)
Form WWWDWWWWLD (23 points)
Record vs Cambridge United (A) lost 1-5 on 11-Aug, (H) drew 1-1 on 18-Jan
Record vs Gateshead (A) drew 1-1 on 26-Dec, (H) drew 3-3 on 01-Jan
Most recent Football League season 2001-02 as Halifax Town AFC
FC Halifax Town timed their best run of the season to perfection, taking 28 points out of 30 in March and April to jump from ninth to third. That run left the Shaymen with enough breathing room to take just a point from their final two fixtures - though even this is, of course, still better form than their semi-final opponents, Cambridge. Halifax's threat comes mainly from striker Lee Gregory who hit 29 regular season goals to finish as the division's second-top scorer, behind only Luton's Andre Grey on 30.
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