table header as a number

hello I have tried and failed for a few hours now but is there a way to make a header format as a number?

I have a table where im trying to use match to match up 2018 with a table column labeled 2018 so I can gather data from the table.

I have tried formatting the cell as a number, I have tried copying and special pasting from another cell where the value is a number, I have tried using value in the equation.

. changing the year in the row to text is not an option as I have other formulas that rely on it being a number.

thanks for any help.

Hi

"If the mountain does not go to Muhammad, Muhammad goes to the mountain ..."

Why not convert the value 2018 to text to match the column?

I ended up using the text function nested inside match to turn it into something usable. I couldnt change the 2018 value to text as it is part of other formulas and it itself is the year function.