Greg Olley scored a hat-trick as Gateshead shrugged off last season’s play-off disappointment to open the new Vanarama National League campaign with a 5-1 trashing of Ebbsfleet.
The home side – who had been barred from taking part in the play-offs because of issues over their ground ownership at the time – went ahead through Callum Whelan in the 12th minute.
Owen Oseni soon doubled the lead and Olley slotted in a third for Gateshead in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Olley added a fourth from close range early in the second half and the former Hull City man completed his hat-trick on the hour, with Dominic Poleon scoring a late consolation goal for Ebbsfleet in stoppage time.
