It was an afternoon to forget for the Spitfires as they fell to defeat against a rampant Gateshead side at the Silverlake Stadium.

The side from the north-east opened the scoring in the 17th minute and never looked like losing their lead as they added another five goals to their tally throughout the game.

Gateshead had the first proper chance of the game early on when Marcus Dinanga saw his effort from inside of the box blocked by Trent Rendall, he then had another go on goal off the rebound but his shot was saved by Joe McDonnell.

Regan Booty had an strike from outside of the box saved by McDonnell in the 14th minute as Gateshead started the brighter of the two sides.

Stephen Wearne cut into the box from the left and had a go on goal, his shot hit the left post and was cleared away by the Spitfires defence.

Greg Olley opened the scoring in the 17th minute. He dribbled into the box and slotted the ball home into the bottom left corner to give Gateshead the lead.

Charlie Carter came close with an effort from outside of the box that was deflected over the bar giving the Spitfires a corner.

Oscar Rutherford came close in the 25th minute with a shot from the right side of the box that stung the palms of Gateshead ‘keeper Archie Mair.

Gateshead doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Marcus Dinanga got in behind the Spitfires defence and took the ball past McDonnell before tapping it home.

Wearne nearly got another for the visitors as he hit the post with a curling effort from the edge of the box in the 31st minute.

George Langston got onto the end of a corner in the 37th minute but his headed effort looped over the bar.

Jordan Hunter scored Gateshead’s third goal in the 40th minute with a shot from the right side of the box that went into the bottom left corner.

Dinanga scored his second goal of the afternoon in the first minute of injury time, he slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to make it four for Gateshead.

Olley came close to adding another for Gateshead early on in the second half as he got in behind the Spitfires defence but put his shot wide to the right of the goal.

Wearne blazed a shot high and wide of the goal in the 57th minute after a quiet start to the second half from both sides.

Aidan Barlow came close for the Spitfires in the 62nd minute, his shot from just inside the box was blocked and then cleared by the Gateshead defence

Wearne made it five for Gateshead in the 66th minute with a right footed shot from the edge of the box that curled into the bottom right corner.

Scott Quigley saw his left footed shot from outside the box go wide to the left of the goal in the 74th minute.

Billy Chadwick added a sixth for Gateshead in the 76th minute when he was slipped in behind the Spitfires defence and slotted the ball past Joe McDonnell.

Aidan Barlow almost pulled one back in the 89th minute with a close range header that went just over the bar.

This was the final chance of the game for either side in what was a disappointing afternoon for the Spitfires.

Report by Matthew Gibbs

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Carter (46), Taylor (C), McCallum, Boldewijn, Langston, Rendall, Nwabuokei (46), Maguire (59), Quigley, Rutherford

Subs: Scott (GK), Clampin (46), Atangana (46), Francillette, Barlow (59)

Gateshead: Mair (GK), Tinkler, Booty, Richardson, Francis, Dinanga (72), Olley (C), Wearne (72), Hunter, Grayson (72), Hannant

Subs: Storey, Allan, Rutledge (72), McBride (72), Chadwick (72)

Attendance: 1,924 (64 away)