Ebbsfleet ended their goal drought on Saturday with a comprehensive win over FC Halifax at Stonebridge Road.

Michael Cheek opened the scoring on just his fifth league start for the club and left-back Chris Bush doubled the lead with a brilliant free-kick.

A penalty from Danny Kedwell at the start of the second put the result beyond doubt and Cheek grabbed a second goal in stoppage-time.

Cheek and Kedwell started together for only the second time as Fleet boss Garry Hill made three changes to the side beaten at Cheltenham in the FA Cup.

Coming in alongside Cheek were Lawrie Wilson, for the suspended Sam Magri at right-back, and Myles Weston, back from international duty.

On-loan forward Reise Allassani returned on the bench but Dean Rance (ankle) missed out again while Kenny Clark and Sean Shields weren't in the squad either.

Ebbsfleet came into the game having not scored in their last three matches but dominated from the start.

Corey Whitely's silky turn created an opening for Weston but his shot was blocked before the visitors combined to crowd out Whitely after Kedwell's flick had run for Cheek.

Between those half-chances, Nathan Ashmore had to make sure a Ryan Sellers corner didn't swirl in at the near post but Fleet kept pressing.

Kedwell headed wide from Weston's wicked cross and when Dave Winfield's header from a corner dropped in the box, Kedwell's hooked volley forced a save from Sam Johnson.

Weston and Cheek combined to set up Andy Drury on the edge of the box although his soft shot was easily gathered by Johnson.

Drury, though, was running the show in midfield and it was little surprise when Fleet took the lead midway through the first half.

Cheek latched onto a long throw and touched the ball home from a couple of yards although Halifax were furious, protesting that he'd used his arm.

Nevertheless, Fleet were in front for the first time after Hill and their visitors struggled to respond.

Josh Staunton's long shot which flew wide was their only effort on goal in the first half while Ebbsfleet kept knocking on the door.

A long throw from Bush reached Whitely, who took a touch and fired wide, before the second goal did arrive five minutes before half-time.

Matty Kosylo was booked for bringing down Jack Payne just outside the box and Bush curled a sublime free-kick into the top corner for just his third goal in Fleet colours.

Halifax were on the ropes and it could easily have been 3-0 before the interval. Cheek took on three players and saw his shot deflect over and then forced a save from Johnson with a header before Payne had a shot charged down following good work by Kedwell.

Whatever was said in the Halifax dressing-room had little impact as Fleet scored again within two minutes of the restart.

Kedwell forced a flying save from Johnson, Cheek was fouled as he followed in and Kedwell crashed the resulting penalty straight down the middle.

Dayle Southwell dragged a low shot wide for the Shaymen but Ebbsfleet looked like they were going to score every time they went forward.

Drury sent a shot high and wide following a lovely passing move and when Cameron King was presented with a shoting opportunity for Town, he failed to hit the target.

Cheek should have had a second goal when he ran through and rounded Johnson but, on the stretch, he couldn't steer the ball in from an increasingly narrow angle.

Halifax were all over the place defensively and Jack King powered a shot over when the visitors were caught napping by a quick free-kick.

It was like shooting practice for a while and Kedwell volleyed just wide after taking the ball down on his chest.

The game petered out after that but Cheek made it 4-0 at the death when Winfield rose to nod Bush's deep free-kick back across goal.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Wilson, Winfield, King, Bush, Weston (Graham 74mins), Payne, Drury (Adams 67mins), Whitely, Kedwell (Allassani 79mins), Cheek. Subs not used: Miles, Coulson.

Halifax: Johnson, Sellers, Clarke, Brown, Staunton, Kosylo, King, (Edwards 59mins, Odelusi 75mins) Southwell, Preston, Maher, Hanson. Subs not used: Duckworth, Rowley, Skarz.

Attendance: 1,104.