Rakish Bingham’s second-half hat-trick saw Ebbsfleet take another giant step towards National League safety on Saturday.

The Fleet made hard work of beating a Gateshead team who had to play 85 minutes with 10 men but Bingham was clearly a man on a mission.

Ebbsfleet made two changes from the team beaten at Aldershot with Dominic Samuel replacing top scorer Dominic Poleon. There was also a first league start for Tommy Fogarty.

Within the first 10 minutes, it appeared to be an inspired switch by boss Danny Searle.

Ebbsfleet’s pressing had already forced two mistakes from the visiting defence and when a third error happened, Louis Storey’s foul on Samuel was deemed a professional foul by referee Jamie O’Connor and left Gateshead 85 minutes to play with 10 men.

The resulting free-kick from Billy Clifford saw his 20-yard right-foot shot brilliantly turned away for a corner by keeper James Montgomery as his effort headed for the top corner.

But Gateshead’s reprieve was short-lived as Ebbsfleet took the lead on eight minutes. Good work by Bryant Bilongo and Bingham saw a defender make a mess of the cross and Samuel had the simple task of turning the ball home from a yard.

Gateshead immediately withdrew Kieron Evans for Robbie Tinkler and they rode out the rest of Fleet’s early storm without further alarm.

On 20 minutes, Samuel nearly went round the keeper but Montgomery again made an excellent save – something that would become a theme later in the game.

Gateshead were a threat despite their numerical advantage and the pace of on-loan Derby man Dajaune Brown gave them an outlet. His speed was evident on the half-hour as Declan Skura was booked for bringing Brown down on the edge of the box, Ed Francis firing the resulting free-kick just wide of the upright.

That Ebbsfleet went in behind at half-time was down to two errors at the back. Ben Chapman’s square ball on 40 minutes was swiftly intercepted and Callum Whelan’s 20-yard drive deflected past keeper Mark Cousins to level matters.

Then in the first minute of stoppage time, Myles Kenlock and Cousins hesitated between them, leaving Whelan to poke home his second into an empty net.

That left Fleet boss Searle with a half-time talk to dish out - and it certainly had the desired effect.

Within a minute of the second half, only an excellent block by Whelan denied Bilongo after good work by Clifford. Then Clifford’s lovely ball over the top was latched onto by Samuel, whose near-post shot was well kept out by Montgomery.

Ebbsfleet were handed a way back into the game on 51 minutes when the referee decided that Samuel’s goalbound shot was blocked by a hand - and pointed to the spot. Bingham decisively fired home to level the scores.

On-loan Birmingham defender Fogarty headed wide from Josh Wright’s corner before Clifford shot inches wide on the hour after good work down the left by Bilongo.

It was one-way traffic and the Fleet deservedly regained the lead on 64 minutes. A short corner was well worked for Edser to cross from the right and Bingham arrived unmarked at the far post to head into an empty net.

There was drama with just three minutes left when a handball shout against Wright on the edge of the Fleet penalty area was turned down and the ball was cleared down the other end for substitute Poleon.

His chip was saved by Montgomery before Poleon latched onto the loose ball and was cynically taken out by Whelan. The Gateshead midfielder might have been fortunate to collect just a yellow card for his troubles.

Gateshead had hardly threatened the Fleet goal but as the game ticked into nine minutes of stoppages they nearly forced an equaliser as Francis’ 20-yard shot was brilliantly turned behind by Cousins.

Poleon again went close to wrapping the points up before the Fleet eventually added a fourth in the fifth minute of injury time. Substitute Greg Cundle’s shot was too hot to handle and Bingham reacted quickest to fire home and calm around 1,500 Fleet fans in one decisive finish.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, Fogarty, Skura, Kenlock, Chapman (McQueen 82mins), Clifford, Wright, Edser, Bilongo (Cundle 74mins), Bingham, Samuel (Poleon 82mins). Subs not used: Tanner, Domi.

Gateshead: Montgomery, Whelan, Richardson, Storey, Francis, Worman (Dinanga 68mins), Evans (Tinkler 9mins), Brown, Hannant, Adom (Booty 54mins), Jobe. Subs not used: Grayson, McBridge.

Referee: Jamie O’Connor.

Attendance: 1,560 (79 away).