Ebbsfleet's poor start to the season continued on Tuesday night with defeat at Bromley.

Michael Cheek scored against his former club on a night when the Ravens were better in all departments.

Fleet, who lost 5-1 here on the final day of last season, have now conceded 12 goals in their last three National League matches and next up comes a trip to title favourites AFC Fylde on Saturday.

Ebbsfleet's only change was enforced, with Jack King suspended after being sent off in the early stage of Saturday's home defeat to Halifax. Sean Shields came into the side and James Ball reverted to centre-half alongside Jamie Grimes.

The ex-Fleet trio of Cheek, Chris Bush and Luke Coulson all started for the home side..

Gozie Ugwu forced a save from Mark Cousins inside the first 10 seconds but Nathan Ashmore was given more of a test at the other end when Reeco Hackett-Fairchild drove inside with purpose and forced the Fleet keeper to dive to his left and beat the ball out at his near post.

Cheek got up well to beat Grimes in the air and Billy Bingham was first to the knockdown, his powerful shot from the edge of the box extending Ashmore again.

It was no surprise when Bromley took the lead on 18 minutes but the visitors gifted them the chance to attack. Aswad Thomas gave the ball away needlessly inside the Ravens half and they moved the ball forward quickly, George Porter and Coulson combining to give Cheek a simple finish from a couple of yards out.

Fleet were rocking and Bromley's confidence surged as they sensed a second goal might not be far away.

King was being badly missed and Ashmore was called into action again when one ball over the top sent Porter racing clear.

Ebbsfleet had a big penalty shout waved away when Ayo Obileye looked to have been dragged down in the box but it was 2-0 on the half-hour.

The visitors failed to deal with another ball into the box and Bingham couldn't miss when the ball dropped to him in front of goal.

Fleet couldn't make the ball stick with Ugwu up front while Cheek had the measure of Grimes and Ball at the other end, bullying the defenders and bringing team-mates into play as Bromley turned the screw.

A teasing cross from Shields created half a chance in the Ravens box but no-one in red could get the final touch and Fleet's frustrations were growing, with Garry Hill in furious conversation with the fourth official as the teams walked off at the break.

It was simply too easy for Bromley, who kept winning the 50-50s after the restart and looked more assured in possession.

Fleet were causing their own problems, Lawrie Wilson giving the ball away and Coulson leading a rapid break before shooting just wide.

Myles Weston got his head to a deep cross from the left when the visitors did string a few passes together but Bromley were able to clear their lines and they looked comfortable in the main.

Porter had his name taken after a silly clash with Ashmore and was taken off moments later to keep him out of any more trouble.

Coulson took advantage of more slack play by Wilson and stung Ashmore's palms before Cousins saved easily from Weston at his near post.

Fleet's fragility at set-pieces almost cost them in a goalmouth scramble and the ball was only hacked clear in the nick of time as white shirts lined up to finish.

Cheek walked past three defenders without a challenge of note as the visitors' defence opened up and Bingham then lashed a brilliant strike high beyond Ashmore from all of 30 yards as Ebbsfleet threatened to cave in.

Hackett-Fairchild's downward header was clawed out by a sprawling Ashmore, without whom the deficit would have been even greater.

Alfie Egan was sent on for the last 10 minutes but there was little Hill could do to affect the game with a young bench featuring one player, Emilio Regini-Moran, who'd only been registered for senior football earlier in the day.

There was a late consolation for Ebbsfleet when a corner ran for Thomas, who stabbed the loose ball home.

Bromley: Cousins, Kizzi, Wood, Holland, Coulson (Mekki 86mins), Raymond, Cheek (Klass 77mins), Bingham, Bush, Porter (Clifton 73mins), Hackett-Fairchild. Subs not used: Higgs, Dunne.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson, Ball, Grimes, Thomas, Lawless (Egan 80mins), Weston, Obileye, Goddard, Shields, Ugwu. Subs not used: Umerah, Palmer, Achuba, Regini-Moran.

Attendance: 1,719 (269 away).