Alfreton Town were denied a first win at Gateshead in 48 years after the Reds conceded two late goals in a 2-1 defeat.
Dayle Southwell had given the Reds a 24th minute lead with a superb finish after controlling Matt Rhead's flick-on, an advantage they held until 15 minutes from time.
A rare defensive error allowed Cedwyn Scott to pounce following a Macaulay Langstaff cross from the right, and the hosts profited from added-time hesitancy that resulted in Greg Olley being left to score a simple winner.
Ironically Southwell's goal and the ultimate strike from Olley both came within 30 seconds of a glaring miss at the other end - Willis clearing the ball to Rhead after Olley had totally miskicked in front of goal and Elliott Reeves unfortunately guiding a free header wide from a peach of a cross by Southwell with half of the five minutes added already elapsed.
It was a lively game throughout with chances for both sides, Southwell having a shot saved after Bailey Hobson had fed Rhead on four minutes, then there was a taste of things to come seven minutes later when Hobson won a corner following a combined build-up from Rhead and Yusifu Ceesay - immediately though Gateshead broke upfield to see Olley's drive acrobatically diverted by George Willis.
Further saves by the Reds' keeper were repeated after the break as Gateshead grew more into the game, but Alfreton almost broke through again after 56 minutes when Ceesay's back-post header from a Southwell cross had to be scrambled off the line by Alex Nicholson.
Five minutes before his equaliser Scott fired against the woodwork, then seven minutes from time Rhead's glancing header from a Ceesay corner was also repelled by the upright.
Alfreton Town: Willis; Clackstone, Preston, Branson, Smith, Wiley, Southwell, Evans, Rhead, Hobson [Johnson 82], Ceesay [Reeves 86].
Unused Substitutes: Lund, Smith-Eccles.
Attendance: 1,175