Ebbsfleet United dropped into the Blue Square Bet Premier drop-zone after a narrow defeat to leaders Gateshead at Stonebridge Road on Saturday.

There were early openings for both sides with Michael West (pictured) - the subject of more speculation with a host of scouts understood to be watching him - twice failing to hit the target when well-placed.

Calum Willock was muscled off the ball, after being momentarily clean through by a defensive slip, but on-loan Newcastle United youngster Jeff Henderson scored the only goal of the game five minutes before the break when he got his head on the end of a cross from Josh Gillies.

A West free-kick hit the wall after the break and young substitute Lanre Azeez narrowly missed out on latching onto the rebound.

Yado Mambo failed to keep a header down when well-placed but almost set-up Scott Ginty, soon after, just overhitting a through ball.

Mambo then nodded a cross back across goal, but no Fleet player was on hand to finish the chance and at the whistle they fell to another 1-0 defeat.

Where to Fleet need to improve in order to climb the Blue Square Premier table? Leave your comments below.