Goals in the fifth minute of the first half for Welling United and the fifth minute of the second half by Gateshead ensured the points were shared in an entertaining match at Park View Road.

Harry Beautyman stunned the Heed by putting the Wings ahead with the first chance of note. Ben Jefford did well in the build up and Beautyman finished with aplomb from the edge of the penalty area for his fifth goal of the season.

Chris Bush then did well to make room for a shot following good work by Malachi Hudson, but his effort was saved comfortably by Adam Bartlett.

After Andrai Jones had fired over for Gateshead, Hudson did likewise for Welling as Beautyman turned provider.

Jon Nouble came close to claiming his first Welling goal with a powerful header that Bartlett kept out at point blank range.

Alex Rodman and Ben Clark had chances for Gateshead before Jake Gallagher came close at the other end with a shot that was deflected wide.

Carl Finnigan was introduced at the break and became an almost immediate ‘super-sub’ with an equaliser five minutes after coming on. James Brown was the provider with a deep cross that Finnigan finished with a close range header.

Having levelled, Gateshead went for the winner by playing an easy on the eye passing game and Welling had to dig in.

Determined Welling defending kept clear cut chances to a minimum and most of Gateshead’s efforts were from outside the penalty area.

Danny Wright had a shot blocked by Jefford and Alex Rodman hit a curler wide.

Even though on the back foot for most of the half, when Welling did counter, both full backs were keen to get forward and Jefford was brought down inches outside the penalty area. Beautyman’s free kick caused problems and James Curtis knew little about his defensive header that flew out for a corner.

Then Barney Williams did well to support Hudson who had held the ball up brilliantly, but the right back’s cross was well cut out.

Brown had a shot that looked to be on target before striking a Wings defender and Bush and Jefford were booked in quick succession.

Alex Rodman shot wide and John Oster skewed an effort beyond the angle as the Heed searched for a winner.

Late in the match, Oster’s shot took a wicked deflection wide with Jonathan Henly wrong footed then Curtis headed the final chance of the match wide.

The draw enabled Welling to maintain their unbeaten home record while Gateshead held on to their place in the play off zone.

 

Welling United: Henly, Williams, Jefford, Gallagher, Bush, Fyfield, Beautyman, Corne (Baselle 75), Nouble (Healy 57), Marsh. Hudson (Fazakerley 68).

Unused substitutes: Turner, Fagan.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Jones, Chandler (Finnigan 46), Curtis, Clark, Oster, Turnball, Brown, O’Donnell, Rodman, Wright (Rankine 83).

Unused substitutes: Guy, Ramshaw, Allan.

Referee: Daniel Cook

Attendance: 536

Welling star player: Harry Beautyman

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.