Ebbsfleet’s winless run extended to 14 National League matches after a classy Gateshead display on Saturday.

The Fleet were unable to get to grips with an impressive Gateshead team who justified their standings in the play-off places.

Ebbsfleet manager Josh Wright made six changes from the team that lost at Barnet last weekend, although his hand was forced by a flu virus that has swept through the camp.

It meant a return for long-term absentee Lewis Page - who last featured at the end of September against Oldham - with Luke O’Neill, Rakish Bingham, Dominic Poleon, Franklin Domi and Craig Tanner also back in the starting XI.

Missing from the Barnet match were Louis John, Toby Edser, Todd Kane and Callum Harriott, while Kwame Thomas and Pape Souare dropped to the bench.

Poleon - who looked more like his old self in a central position - ran from the halfway line after seven minutes but his right-foot shot from an acute angle was saved by the legs of keeper Owen Mason.

The game quickly settled into attack versus defence, though, with the Fleet limited to breaks on the counter.

Ebbsfleet keeper Mark Cousins had to parry away a long-range Joe Grayson shot before fellow centre-back Ben Radcliffe’s downward header when left unmarked from a Regan Booty corner bounced over the crossbar.

The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes when a left-wing cross was only partially cleared by Tom Dallison and Callum Wheelan latched onto the loose ball before curling home from 20 yards.

It needed a timely interception minutes later from Tanner to deny Tyrelle Newton a sight of goal after Owen Oseni’s driving run.

Wheelan shot inches wide after Tyler Cordner coughed up possession when trying to bring the ball out at the back and Cousins then thwarted Oseni with a near-post save.

Ebbsfleet’s attacking forays were few and far between. Mason’s clearance was picked up by the Fleet press but Bingham, perhaps underlying the current lack of confidence in the squad, declined the invitation to shoot from 20 yards.

Tanner’s near-post corner presented problems for Gateshead and Cordner was unfortunate not to turn in an equaliser at the near post.

But Gateshead added a second goal from the penalty spot five minutes before the break. Alex Aoraha’s header inside the Gateshead half fell perfectly for the visitors, who broke with speed. Tanner did well to get back but referee Andrew Humphries pointed to the spot after his challenge when Oseni laid the ball off. Luke Hannant found the bottom corner to double his side’s advantage.

Wright made a double change on 56 minutes but within a minute they found themselves three goals behind. A handball claim and offside appeal both went against the Fleet before Josh Williams’ low right-foot shot was parried and Oseni had a simple tap-in from close range.

A fourth goal arrived on 63 minutes when an interception fell perfectly for Oseni, who expertly slotted past Cousins, although his afternoon was cut short by injury shortly after.

A flick-on by substitute Kwame Thomas nearly set up Jephte Tanga and prompted ironic cheers from some home fans as the ball was cleared behind for a corner.

The Fleet got a consolation goal on 85 minutes when the corner was recycled and Tanner’s cross was headed in by the diving Cordner, who lost his marker in the area with some clever movement.

Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill (Cosgrave 56mins), Cordner, Dallison, Page (Souare 56mins), Davies, Aoraha (Manktelow 64mins), Tanner, Domi (Tanga 71mins), Bingham (Kwame Thomas 71mins), Poleon. Subs not used: Berry, Anthony.

Gateshead: Mason, Booty (Clockett 82mins), Oseni (Malcolm 66mins), Wheelan, Worman (Humbles 72mins), Belehouan, Radcliffe, Grayson, Hannant (Adom 82mins), Newton, Williams. Subs not used: Basey, Tinkler, Jones.

Referee: Andrew Humphries.

Attendance: 1,275 (44 away).