A Daryl Clare strike saw Gateshead secure their Blue Square Premier status against AFC Wimbledon in a sensational final day of the season.
The result saw them leapfrog Forest Green who lost 2-1 to bottom side Grays and are relegated as a result.
Gateshead deserved the win and creating the better chances long after Clare had tucked away Craig Baxter's freekick.
Peter Winn headed wide and Clare missed a second-half sitter, but it made no difference to a jubilant Gateshead.
The Heed got off to a wonderful start with Clare latching on to Baxter's freekick to slide the ball under keeper Seb Brown from close range to give the hosts the lead in the fourth minute.
Rather than trying to defend their advantage however, the Heed pushed forward, looking to add to their tally and increase the pressure on the sides above them in the table.
Brown was forced to make a number of excellent saves while Gateshead winger Winn headed over the bar when well placed.
The visitors threatened on the occasions when they put the ball into the box, but the home side looked the livelier and hungrier of the two teams.
Clare nearly doubled his tally but was guilty of missing a sitter after some fantastic work by Andy Ferrell teed him up, but the shot went inexplicably wide.
The same duo then combined to put the ball into the net after Brown fumbled Ferrell's freekick, but Clare's effort was ruled out for offside.
As the crowd exploded into a cacophony of sound in the closing stages, the home side new they were in with a chance of staying up, and reverted to a back-to-the-walls display.
Their solid rearguard action proved to be enough, with Forest Green's defeat allowing the Tynesiders to escape the relegation zone with little to spare except goal difference.
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