Wealdstone edged deeper into the relegation zone as they were comprehensibly beaten 4-0 by play-off pushers Gateshead.
Two first-half penalties from Luke Hannant, along with a second-half brace from Jovan Malcolm, sealed the Heed’s first league win since beating Hartlepool on 26th December.
Neil Gibson made three changes to the side that were narrowly beaten by Tamworth midweek, with Connor McAvoy, Craig Eastman and captain Adrian Mariappa returning to the starting line-up.
The Heed started brightly; crafting an opportunity within five minutes of kick-off, with Will McGowan flicking Ben Worman’s cross narrowly past the far post.
Three minutes later, Louis Flower came close for the visitors, with the striker heading Jack Roles’ corner just over the crossbar.
Gateshead’s dominance prevailed in the 32nd minute as they duly took the lead, with Hannant converting from 12-yards, after Jack Cook was adjudged to have fouled Flower in the area.
With ten minutes of the first-half remaining, the Stones were agonisingly close to equalising when Harrison Sohna curled a superb effort towards the top corner, but George Shelvey responded with an outstanding save to deny the loanee.
However, Wealdstone’s fortunes took a further dent, with Cook conceding another penalty in the second minute of stoppage time, which was coolly fired home again by Hannant.
Gibson’s side returned from the break with added impetus and came close to reducing the deficit in the 55th minute when Sohna found Enzio Boldewijn, who struck on target, but Dan Jones produced a timely block.
The Stones continued to probe for a way back into the game, nearly profiting in the 64th minute when Kallum Cesay fired from a tight angle, however Shelvey reacted with a fine save.
Gateshead then extended their lead further in the 69th minute as substitute Malcolm rifled a strike past Luca Gunter that rebounded in off of the post.
Despite the Heed being in complete control, Wealdstone came close to scoring, as Alex Reid’s diving header whistled past the near post.
On the stroke of regulation time, Malcolm nearly scored his second as he burst into the box and drilled a low strike on target, but Gunter was equal to his effort.
However, Malcolm did not have to wait long to notch his brace, heading home past Gunter at the death to complete the rout for the visitors.
Wealdstone: Gunter; McAvoy; Cook; Mariappa; Boldewijn; Eastmond (Obiero 71); Grant; Cesay(Dyer 82); Georgiou (Hutchinson 65, 6); Sohna; Reid.
Subs not used: Baptiste, Clark, Jeffcott, Berkley -Agyepong.