Ebbsfleet tasted defeat for the first time under new boss Danny Searle on Tuesday night.

It was a forgettable return to his former club for Searle, who saw the Fleet take an early lead before being brushed aside by an Aldershot side who look well on course for a top-five finish in the National League.

It was the Fleet’s first game since Searle was named manager-of-the-month for February so perhaps the curse struck.

Ebbsfleet made one change from the team that beat Rochdale in their last game with Hayden White coming in for the injured Luke O’Neill.

It was a dream start for the visitors as they took a fourth-minute lead when White did well down the right and his cross was converted by Toby Edser against his former club.

Ebbsfleet should have extended their lead but Ben Chapman’s shot was turned behind by Jordi van Stappershoef before Declan Skura headed the resulting corner straight at the keeper from close range.

It needed an excellent recovery challenge from Cian Harries to make up for his own error and deny Dominic Poleon a clear run at goal, as he intercepted Rakish Bingham’s intended through ball.

Aldershot slowly got into their stride although James Daly’s header went harmlessly wide. They also had a penalty appeal turned down and did have the ball in the net but the flag had long been up for an obvious offside.

At the other end, Chapman’s right-foot shot from 20 yards was clearly deflected onto the top of the bar but referee Abigail Byrne bizarrely gave a goal kick.

Ebbsfleet were to rue their missed chance as Aldershot turned the game around by the break.

The equaliser came on 32 minutes when a short corner didn’t initially get into the penalty area but when the cross eventually arrived, it was turned in by Lorent Tolaj.

An excellent block in the box by Skura in stoppage time appeared to have got the Fleet through to the break on level terms. But another short corner proved their undoing as Josh Wright was unable to cut the ball out at the near post and Tolaj reacted quickest to turn it home at the near post.

A slip by Haji Mnoga let in Poleon straight after the break but he was forced wide after rounding the keeper and his square ball into the six-yard box was turned behind for a corner.

Keeper van Stappershoef claimed the corner and Aldershot’s subsequent break was swift and incisive, the ball worked into the area for Daly to convert a third goal on 49 minutes.

Ebbsfleet were handed a helping hand to get back into the game just before the hour mark when the referee spotted something off the ball involving Mnoga, and showed him a straight red card.

But Aldershot are a team in form for the play-off places and they added a lovely fourth goal on 67 minutes when Glover cut inside from the left and arrowed a perfect right-foot shot beyond keeper Mark Cousins from 25 yards.

Little damage was done elsewhere with results largely favouring the Fleet, who will hope to get a positive response when they host Gateshead on Saturday.

Aldershot: Van Stappershoef, Mnoga, Harfield, Harries, O’Keefe (Widdrington 88mins), Frost, Tolaj (Thomas 69mins), Stokes, Glover, Daly (Ghandour 80mins), Kadji. Subs not used: Scott, Barrett.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, White, Skura, Kenlock, Chapman (Sterling-James 68mins), Wright (Domi 68mins), Edser, Clifford (Samuel 68mins), Bilongo, Bingham, Poleon. Subs not used: McQueen, Fogarty.

Referee: Abigail Byrne.

Attendance: 2,377 (133 away).