It was heartbreak for the Spitfires in Tyne and Wear after a late penalty sees them pegged back by Gateshead.

A quiet first half was followed up by a magical strike from Enzio Boldewijn, who gave the Spitfires the lead in the 55th minute.

But, Gateshead found an equaliser after they won a penalty in the 97th minute meaning that they would would have to be shared between the two sides.

In the 22nd minute, Kenton Richardson rattled the game into action. He drove down the right flank before cutting into the box and having a go on goal, his effort cannoned off of the crossbar, away from danger.

The Spitfires responded to this just three minutes later with their first chance of the game.

After that brief flurry in the middle of the half, there was then another spell where neither side could create any real chances.

Gateshead put an end to this in the dying moments of the half. Joe McDonnell made a superb diving save before George Langston cleared an effort off the line, keeping the score level going into half-time.

Enzio Boldewijn ran through towards the Gateshead goal but struck the ball wide with his long-range effort.

The first chance of the second half came in the 49th minute, Tom Whelan drilled the ball towards goal from the right side of the box but his shot blazed wide past the far post.

Boldewijn put the Spitfires ahead in the 55th minute through Boldewijn.

He excellently curled the ball into the top right corner from range, putting the Spitfires in pole position entering the final 35 minutes.

Scott Quigley had a go at doubling the Spitfires lead five minutes later, his spun before aiming the ball goal wards but saw his effort get blocked and pushed away by the Gateshead defence.

The hosts then pushed on hard in search of an equaliser and had several attempts on goal in the fifteen minutes that followed.

Gateshead’s hopes were fading as the time ticked away. Dinanga was denied by a superb save from McDonnell, he shot on the turn only to see his effort get denied by the Spitfires’ ‘ keeper.

Dinanga tried it again in the 93rd minute but glanced his headed effort wide of the goal.

Gateshead earned a penalty in the seventh minute of injury time which was converted by Hannant.

This spelled the end of the game, meaning the hosts would steal a point from the Spitfires.

Gateshead: Bond (GK), Whelan, Richardson (63), Storey (75), Francis (C), Dinanga, Evans, Grayson, Hannant, McBride (71), Jobe

Subs: Worman (71), Brown (63), Hasani, Adam (75), Stott

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Atangana, Martin (C), Reeves, Taylor (84), Boldewijn, Langston, Maguire, Longe-King, Quigley, Greenwood

Subs: Hodson (84), Croll, Nwabuokei, Rutherford, Dotse

Attendance: 855 (14 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs