Before their match at Gateshead, Welling had lost five out of five away games.

However, a gritty display by the Wings saw them pick up a well deserved win at the second placed hosts.

Manager Loui Fazakerley shuffled the Welling pack by pushing Xavier Vidal out wide right, Reece Harris on the left, and playing Ricky Wellard in the hole behind lone striker George Porter.

Neither team wanted to give too much away in the early stages. Josh Gillies turn and shot wide from far out was the only effort of note in the first ten minutes.

Ryan Bowman worked his way through soon after but Tom King, back in the starting line up, deflected his effort wide of the near post.

Xavier Vidal missed a great chance for Welling when shooting over at the far post.

Vidal's confidence was not tarnished however, and when Porter was upended by a rash tackle by Ben Clark on the edge of the area, the Wings' player was keen to take full responsibility. His beautiful free kick around the wall struck the underside of the bar before taking a slight defloection off the diving Sam Russell on its way into the net.

King had to come out and claim from Bowman before Welling increased their lead.

An untidy clearance fell to Vidal, and he hit a clean strike that gave Gateshead goalkeeper Sam Russell no chance.

It could have been three nil but Nortei Nortey's shot drifted just past with Russell well beaten.

Having looked in complete control, Welling let the hosts back into the game. Gillies floated a corner into the middle and Nathan Buddle rose unopposed to power his header home.

James Marwood hit an audacious effort wide as Gateshead looked to build on what they had.

Just before half time, King made a fine reaction save from Jamie Chandler who got in behind the defence.

In previous matches this season, Welling have been susceptible immediately after the break but this time they came out focussed and broke down play before starting to impose themselves.

Simon Ramsden's ugly foul on Sam Corne gave Vidal another opportunity from a free kick, but his strike flew just wide.

Marwood escaped down the right but delayed his shot and King was out quickly to block. King then had to get down quickly to save from a Rob Ramshaw header

Once again Marwood worried Welling and the excellent Kevin Lokko was cautioned for a foul on him. Marwood was back up quickly, however, and put the free kick just beyond the far post.

Jamie Chandler tried to bundle his way through but the Welling work-rate continued to frustrate the hosts and Welling saw out the additional six minutes added by referee Ryan Johnson with no alarm.

Welling United: King, Nortey, Jefford, Lee, Chambers, Lokko, Corne, Vidal, Porter, Wellard, Harris. Unused substitutes: McEntegart, Taylor, Awotwi, Obafemi, Johnson.