Harry Beautyman scored his fifth goal of the season as Welling picked up a creditable point in Vanarama Conference on Saturday.

The Wings dominated the first half and could have been more than one goal ahead. But promotion-chasing Gateshead showed their class after the break and could have gone on to get the three points themselves.

Welling were ahead as early as the fifth minute. Tyrone Marsh cleverly flicked Ben Jefford's throw-in into the path of Beautyman, who drove forward and powered home a right-foot shot from 20 yards to beat keeper Adam Bartlett at his near post.

The hosts never let Gateshead settle. The visitors tried to play possession football from the back but they were continually forced back under constant pressure from the Wings.

Centre-back Chris Bush nearly made it 2-0 on 17 minutes. Winning possession inside his own half, Bush came forward and exchanged passes with Malachi Hudson, only to pick out Bartlett with his low shot from the edge of the area.

Hudson nearly claimed a second himself on 25 minutes, but his left-foot curler went over with Bartlett beaten before Jon Nouble headed Beautyman's corner goalwards only to see Bartlett beat his attempt away.

Gateshead turned the game around after the break. They passed forward with more purpose and, as the hosts tired, they started to find more space in attacking areas.

The equaliser arrived within five minutes of the restart, JJ O'Donnell's left-wing cross being headed in by substitute Carl Finnigan at the far post.

Another O'Donnell cross nearly yielded a second goal minutes later but Jefford deflected Ben Wright's effort behind for a corner.

Alex Rodman twice went close as Gateshead dominated possession but Welling always had a threat at the other end with the pace and direct running of Marsh.

In the end, however, both teams had to settle for a point, which was probably a fair result on the balance of play.