GATESHEAD 2 HEREFORD 1
“We can now look forward to playing in the National League again, and preparation now starts for that.
“It’s been a roller-coaster of a season. We had a vision and achieved our aim and the fans have been brilliant all season.”
Bulls attacker Miles Storey fired an early warning shot over the bar from 25 yards out but it wasn’t long before the hosts found a bit more rhythm.
Captain Greg Olley’s first-time pass sent Langstaff scurrying clear only for Sondergaard to make the first of a string of impressive saves.
But the predatory Teessider would not be denied and when he was released on goal, there was an inevitability about the outcome.
A shot that was arrowed across the keeper took a deflection but found the far corner and the Heed were up and running.
They went on to create numerous further opportunities before the break but just couldn’t find a way past great Dane Sondergaard.
Dan Ward was lively in the engine room and forced a flying save, with Scott then frustrated by a defensive block.
A flowing move full of short passes saw Ward clip the bar from 22 yards before Sondergaard thwarted Langstaff with a superb one-handed save.
The Heed’s top scorer then raced three quarters of the length of the pitch following a Hereford corner only for Sondergaard to come off his line to block.
The pace dropped after the break with fewer goalscoring opportunities, but when they came, the majority were for Gateshead.
Good feet and attacking intent saw Ward break into the box, but again Sondergaard advanced to block.
A rare mistake from the young shotstopper saw him pass straight to Scott but the frontman was frustrated by yet another diving save.
After a corner had been recycled, Olley’s ball into the six-yard box was on the money, but sub Paul Blackett could only volley over the bar.
Tom Owen-evans went close to an equaliser but Gateshead finally got a second.
Olley’s lofted ball skimmed off a defensive head and Langstaff took a headed touch before passing the ball into the bottom corner.
Seb Revan, found by Storey, ensured there would be no Gateshead clean sheet but it mattered little.
The Heed signed off with a victory and the medals for the players were fittingly handed over by former chairman and owner Graham Wood.
The lifting of the National League North trophy followed as delighted fans celebrating with their Heed heroes on the pitch in a sea of joy on the banks of the Tyne.
GATESHEAD: Marschall, Tinkler (Nicholson 63), Hunter, Storey, Charters (Wombwell 24), Bailey, Ward, Greenfield (Blackett 59), Olley, Langstaff, Scott. Subs not used: Pani, Malley.
HEREFORD: 4-4-1-1 Sondergaard, Hodgkiss, Egan (Patten 46), Pollock, Revan, Mcclean (Wright 63), Haines, Lloyd , Pinchard (Njie 82), Owen-evans, Storey. Subs not used: Hall (gk), Klukowski.
Referee: Paul Cooper (Peterlee).
Attendance: 4,129.