GATESHEAD put financial problems to the back of their minds by climbing into the play-off zone with a 2-0 win at Aldershot.

The Shots’ relegation fears deepened as they slipped seven points off safety after a home defeat by the Heed.

Gary Waddock's hosts looked bright early on and Bernard Mensah forced Gateshead keeper Aynsley Pears to tip wide to keep the scores level.

Pears was also well-placed to push aside a close-range volley from John Goddard as the home side kept up the pressure.

In the second half, though, Gateshead found their rhythm and an accurate centre from Scott Barrow was headed past Jake Cole by Connor Thomson - his first goal for the club.

Ben Clark's men extended their unbeaten run to seven games as Tom Devitt found substitute Cameron Salkeld at the back post to seal the points.

Gateshead: Pears; Barrow, Devitt, White, Williamson, Tinkler, Mellish, Forbes, Olley (Hunter 90), Thomson (Salkeld 80), Rigg. Subs (not used): O’Donnell, Maloney, Lumsden.

HARROGATE dropped out of the play-off places again in the National League after slipping up at home.

Conor Wilkinson scored a stoppage-time equaliser as Dagenham rescued a 1-1 draw.

Mark Beck and Jack Emmett saw early efforts stopped by visiting goalkeeper Elliot Justham and, five minutes before half-time, Jack Muldoon hit a post with a low attempt from just outside the area.

Muldoon - Harrogate's 12-goal top scorer - was involved in the opener as, in the 55th minute, his shot was parried by Justham and it fell for Callum Howe to steer into the bottom corner.

But Town could not find a second to kill the game off and were punished at the death by Wilkinson, who reached ten for the season with a close-range finish from Ollie Harfield's cross.

Harrogate: Belshaw; Langmead, Howe, Thomson, Falkingham, Fallowfield, Burrell, Kerry (Mottley-Henry 80), Emmett, Beck, Muldoon (Williams 86). Subs (not used): Cracknell, Kitching, Woods.

YORK City boss Steve Watson praised his team’s “aggressive side” as they battled to a first-ever win over bogey team Leamington.

The Minstermen had conceded late goals in their previous three contests against the Warwickshire minnows with each match ending 2-2.

But Alex Kempster’s 11th-minute goal proved sufficient to secure a fourth straight National League North success for Watson’s team, who subsequently climbed into the top half of the table for the first time since October 27.

The City chief told the York Press: “There are lots of different ways to win football matches. Against Nuneaton, we played good football and created lots of chances, but this game was a battle and, whilst it was an uncomfortable to watch for everybody and certainly for me, if you’re going to be successful, you need to dig out results by being gutsy.

“It was niggly and there were a lot of exchanges going on, but I don’t mind that at all and we proved we can fight games out.”

York: Bartlett; Griffiths, Bencherif, Newton, Ferguson; Burgess, Moke, McLaughlin; York (Law 66), Burrow, Kempster. Subs (not used): Dyer, Harris, Parkin, Whitley.