RELEGATED Aldershot Town have been given a reprieve and will play in the National League again next season – and they may just have two players in particular to thank.

Bernard Mensah and Matt McClure netted in a 2-0 win at home to Havant & Waterlooville on Easter Monday then repeated the trick five days later in a 2-0 win at Maidstone on the last day of a miserable relegation season.

And little did anyone know that six weeks later those four goals would prove to be hugely significant for the Shots.

For the two wins hoisted Aldershot up to 21st place in the National League, leaving them just one place from safety at the end of a dismal nine months at the EBB Stadium.

But on Saturday they were gifted a lifeline at the annual meeting of the National League at Celtic Manor in South Wales as troubled Gateshead were unceremoniously dumped into the National League North after a series of rule breaches – with the highest-ranked ‘relegated’ team, Aldershot, taking their place.

“We’re obviously glad that we’ve been given a reprieve and will still be playing in the National League but I feel sorry for Gateshead, certainly the supporters, but over this last season rules were broken and there was a punishment,” said Shots chairman Shahid Azeem.

“In theory we would rather win on the pitch rather than off the pitch but we will take it. There are rules and we are grateful that we are still in the National League.

“Every season is a fresh start but last season wasn’t great on many fronts for a number of reasons and we are relieved we are still in the National League.

“But it’s a wake up call for everybody and hopefully we will get it right on the pitch this year.”

Gateshead had initially had their National League licence revoked which meant that they would have dropped down two divisions, and out of the National League system altogether, but on appeal, and with new owners in place, they were handed a one-division demotion instead with the knock-on effect of scuppering relegated Truro City’s desperate bid to stay in National League South.

What Aldershot’s reprieve means in real terms is that new boss Danny Searle’s men will line up in August against the likes of Notts County, Wrexham and Woking instead of more regionalised teams in the south.

“Financially I don’t think it makes a huge deal of difference whether you are in the National League or regional football, but you want to be playing at the highest level possible, playing with bigger clubs. It’s a status thing,” said Mr Azeem.

Having added assistant manager Anwar Uddin and goalkeeping coach David Blackmore to his backroom staff, former Braintree boss Searle can now focus on pre-season knowing exactly where his team will be playing next season, with friendlies already lined up on July 6 against Badshot Lea to unveil the Baggies’ new ground in Wrecclesham and against League One Portsmouth at the EBB Stadium on July 23.

Off the field, Rushmoor Borough Council has agreed to grant the Shots a new 118-year lease for their home ground at a significantly reduced rent to help the club with its redevelopment plans.

Shots chairman Mr Azeem said: “It’s fantastic news. We’ve been working hard with the council the last six to seven years to make sure we had developments in place to make the football club sustainable.

“This is a great opportunity to build a sustainable stadium that will create revenue, create jobs and become a hub of the community.

“We’re incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity as lots of hard work and demonstration of trust has gone into the project. This really is a game changer.”