Had the Blues taken nine points from the nine available in the last three games then there could have been few complaints.
For the third game running, Chester FC shaded the contest and had the better chances but had to be content with another draw.
Neil Young watched Ross Killock head his side in front but the visitors earned a share of the points in the second half when James Marwood punished an indecisive John Danby.
Instead of nine points their performances merited, the Blues have only three and Young will know he must address the lack of killer instinct if his side are to survive.
With games coming thick and fast, Young made five changes from the side who were held to a frustrating goalless draw at Southport.
Killock and Lewis Turner returned from injury, Jason Jarrett came back into the fold after a one-game ban, Joe Heath replaced Kevin McIntyre at left back and Alex Titchiner swapped place with Tom Peers, who dropped to the bench.
Gateshead came into the game in confident mood, boasting one of the best away records in the Skrill Premier and having already beaten the Blues twice this season.
Visiting keeper Adam Bartlett was forced into the first save of the game on five minutes when Jamie Menagh had a crack from the edge of the area having cut in from the right.
Gateshead were happy to retain the ball in the early stages but it was the hosts who drew first blood on 10 minutes. From a free kick wide on the left, John Rooney curled a delightful ball toward the six yard box and Killock planted his header into the far corner for his first goal for the club.
Menagh had a chance to put the Blues two up on 20 minutes but flashed his volley over the bar after Jamie Reed's deflected strike feel to him 10 yards out.
Still the visitors enjoyed most of the possession but it was the home side who created the better chance with George Miller, Reed and Jarrett all not quite able to take advantage of half-chances.
Gateshead, who had started with midfield Josh Walker playing in the false-nine role, made a tactical change just after the half hour mark with centre forward Liam Hatch replacing Marcus Maddison, who was visibly unimpressed with the change.
Titchiner – who was causing plenty of problems for the visiting centre halves – saw an effort blocked on 35 minutes before Lewis Turner tested Bartlett with a fizzing strike from the edge of the box but the keeper held well down low to his right.
Gateshead showed signs of frustration as the Blues continued to press although had the final chance of the first period as James Marwood poked straight at John Danby from five yards out as the hosts went into the break a goal to the good.
Jarrett had the first opportunity following the restart from another testing Rooney corner but the midfielder smashed his back post volley out of the ground. Rooney then had a low drive from just inside the box but the Bartlett was up to the test again in the visitors goal.
Gateshead began to come back into the game and Turner denied Marwood with a fine sliding tackle inside the box before the excellent Miller cleared a Liam Hatch header off the line with Danby well beaten on 52 minutes.
Menagh produced another save from Bartlett as the Blues steadied the ship but it wasn't long before the visitors were back on level terms. Substitute Hatch knocked a high ball forward and Marwood found himself with acres of space behind the back four and fired beyond the hesitant Danby.
Young's side responded in the right manner with Miller going close before Bartlett made a smart stop to deny Titchiner but there were opportunities for the visitors too as the game opened up.
Despite possession being shared evenly, neither side was able to craft any clear goalscoring chances and the closest the hosts came was a Horan back post header the skipper was unable to find the target as the Blues had to settle for a point yet again.
Chester FC: Danby, Turner, Horan, Killock, Heath, Menagh (McIntyre 76), Miller, Jarrett, Rooney, Reed (Peers 73), Titchiner.
Subs: Kay, Mahon, Williams.
Booked: Killock, Heath.
Goals: Killock 10.
Gateshead: Bartlett, Baxter, Curtis, Clark, Sirrell, Turnbull, Chandler (Brown 66), Walker (Cummins 50), Oster, Marwood, Maddison (Hatch 33)
Subs: Magnay, Ramshaw.
Booked: Turnbull.
Goal: Marwood 68.
Attendance: 2,017.
Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool)
