Ten-man Gateshead’s National League play-off hopes were dealt a blow by a 4-2 defeat away at Ebbsfleet.
Rakish Bingham was the hero for the home team with a hat-trick after Dominic Samuel had opened the scoring in the eighth minute – Bingham providing the assist.
That came four minutes after defender Louis Storey, who is also interim assistant manager, was sent off for a bad challenge on Samuel.
Gateshead unexpectedly led at half-time through a double from Callum Whelan but Bingham levelled from the penalty spot following a handball in the 52nd minute and put Ebbsfleet ahead with a diving header 11 minutes later before completing his treble in injury time.
