Ebbsfleet moved closer to the National League play-offs by thrashing Braintree on New Year's Day.

Garry Hill's side have now won five of their last six games and are piling the pressure on those above them.

Michael Cheek (2), Cody McDonald and Corey Whitely settled things at Cressing Road, where Fleet held the division's bottom side at arm's length for long periods.

Having rung the changes against Eastleigh on Saturday, Fleet boss Garry Hill made another four here. Cheek and McDonald started up front together for the first time as Danny Kedwell dropped to the bench while there were also recalls for Lawrie Wilson, Ebou Adams and Bagasan Graham.

For the third game in a row, Ebbsfleet scored inside the first three minutes. McDonald's clever backheel forced a corner down the left-hand side and the striker then craned his neck to score with a clever header when Jack Payne picked him out from the set-piece.

Payne tried his luck from a free-kick moments later when Cheek was bundled over by Ejiro Okosieme but his shot hit the wall and deflected behind.

Ebbsfleet, looking to press home their early advantage, went close again when Graham burst into the box and crossed for McDonald, who this time couldn't keep his header down.

Graham, as in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, looked a real threat down the left-hand side and Braintree simply couldn't handle his explosive pace. Graham surged past two defenders in the penalty area and forced Ben Killip to beat his shot behind at the near post.

Fleet were racking up the corners although Braintree created a half-chance from one of their own. Lyle Della-Verde's deep cross dropped for Okosieme at the back post but the former Dover man couldn't sort his feet out in time and the opportunity was gone.

Normal service was quickly resumed, though, with Cheek getting round the back of Braintree's porous defence and almost setting up a team-mate.

It was Cheek who made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute, scoring with a header from another Payne corner despite Justin Amaluzor's efforts to scramble it off the line.

Braintree were giving Graham far too much space on the wing and he almost played McDonald in for a third Ebbsfleet goal.

But the home side enjoyed a good spell around the half-hour, invited forward by some sloppy Fleet defending.

Courtney Richards powered an effort wide from distance and Oscar Borg's shot deflected behind for a corner. Della-Verde delivered it from the Iron right and his brilliant whipped delivery should have been converted by Cameron James, arriving late in the six-yard box, but he failed to make contact.

Chris Bush tricked his way past two defenders late in the first half but was denied what would have been a magical goal by Killip, who spread himself at the defender's feet.

Braintree should have pulled a goal back at the start of the second half when Lawrie Wilson's mistake let Borg in but he made the wrong choice and tried to pick out a team-mate when he had a clear sight of goal.

Callum Morton then chested down a high ball and blazed his shot past the angle in another reminder to Ebbsfleet that the game was still very much on.

Desperately needing a goal, Braintree sent on Marcel Barrington just after Della-Verde had whipped a shot just wide following a short corner.

But suddenly the visitors turned on the style and extended their lead with an hour gone. Cheek spun in midfield and played in Adams, who went down under a clumsy challenge from Ricky Gabriel as he charged into the box. At first the referee appeared to have given a free-kick just outside the area but eventually a penalty was given and Cheek sent Killip the wrong way as he picked out the bottom right-hand corner.

As you'd expect, that goal rather knocked the stuffing out of Braintree and the sight of Whitely coming off the bench would have done little to improve their mood.

Killip saved well twice to deny Graham as the home defence parted in front of him, before Morton shot into the side netting at the other end.

Whitely made it 4-0 with an outrageous finish 11 minutes from time, backheeling Cheek's low cross in off the far post.

Braintree were on the floor now and with the Fleet teeing off in search of more goals, Cheek went close to his hat-trick with a shot which flew just wide of the near post.

But the noisy travelling fans were more than happy with four goals and a maximum haul of nine points from three games over the festive period.

Braintree: Killip, Muleba, Okosieme, Gabriel, Lyons-Foster (Curran 80mins), Borg (Barrington 55mins), James, Richards, Della-Verde (Clayton-Phillips , Morton, Amaluzor. Subs not used: Allen, Sogaf.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Magri, King, Bush, Wilson, Adams (Moncur 79mins), Payne (Rance 75mins), Drury, Graham, McDonald (Whitely 71mins), Cheek. Subs not used: Miles, Kedwell.

Attendance: 752.