It was Winn who also created the opening goal. The Scunthorpe loanee put a ball into the box from a corner and Brentford keeper Lewis Price fumbled a routine catch and somehow managed to put the ball into his own net.
The goal came on 55 minutes and the visitors came back quickly. Former Newcastle striker Carl Cort found the back of the net with a header from a left wing cross.
Brentford took the lead on 70 minutes as Kevin O'Connor thrashed in the best goal of the game from just inside the penalty area, after a free-kick was poorly headed away by James Curtis.
Gateshead didn't give up and found some inspiration from a throw in on 92 minutes. Substitute Armand One got a flick on at the near post and with three Gateshead players waiting to smash the ball home it was Winn who smashed it in to earn a replay.
Gateshead and Brentford will share the number three ball in tomorrow's Second Round draw at 3:35pm on ITV1.
Gateshead: Farman, Baxter, Cave, Curtis, Williams, Gate, Turnbull, Harwood, Winn, Armstrong, Clare.
Subs: Phillips (on for Harwood), One (on for Armstrong). Unused Subs: Provett, Robinson, Pelonde, Francis, Richardson