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Ebbsfleet United boss Garry Hill on the 4-0 win over FC Halifax Town

Garry Hill said Ebbsfleet's emphatic win over Halifax proved Danny Kedwell and Michael Cheek can play together up front.

The pair started in tandem for only the second time on Saturday and scored three goals between them in a 4-0 victory.

Cheek, who joined Ebbsfleet on the eve of the season, has started just five matches in the National League for his new club.

Danny Kedwell runs to celebrate with Michael Cheek Picture: Sean Aidan
Danny Kedwell runs to celebrate with Michael Cheek Picture: Sean Aidan

Report: Ebbsfleet United 4 FC Halifax Town 0

Kedwell, who led the line on his own for much last season, has continued in that role but the switch to 4-4-2 worked a treat.

Cheek scored in either half, could have had a hat-trick and won the penalty which Kedwell converted.

Hill said: "I see certain things in training, with Ian Hendon coaching the players and me observing. I can see there’s a good relationship between those two.

"It’s not a case of one plays and the other one doesn’t, they can play in the same team.

"It’s a lot easier for teams who play against you if they’ve got four defenders marking one (striker) rather than two and they’re a handful when they’re at it. I’m pleased by that."

There was more than a hint of handball for Cheek's first goal but he really came alive after that and looked to be forming a real understanding with Kedwell.

Hill said: "Michael Cheek’s come here from Dagenham & Redbridge, he was at Braintree and he’s always got goals.

"Danny Kedwell has led the line superbly and you can play Danny Kedwell and Michael Cheek in the same side.

FC Halifax were furious this Michael Cheek goal was allowed to stand Picture: Sean Aidan
FC Halifax were furious this Michael Cheek goal was allowed to stand Picture: Sean Aidan

"This factor about Danny Kedwell and playing wide boys off him or behind him…

"Danny Kedwell does very well and Michael Cheek can do very well. We’ve got a little bit of both up there.

"Kedwell can face up front and Cheek can get down the sides and behind them and they’re two big boys.

"When they’re on song, especially if you’re getting balls into the penalty area, they can ask questions.

"We’re still going through the players, we’re sorting players out, there’s no secret about that, we’re sorting formations out and there’s a good squad of players at the football club.

"It’s getting the balance and it’s getting the squad all together, coming off the same hymn sheet."

Ebbsfleet had failed to score in Hill's first three games in charge but they looked dangerous every time they went forward against a lacklustre Halifax outfit.

Hill said: "We’ve played very well in games and created chances at very important times and haven’t taken them.

Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill Picture: Sean Aidan
Ebbsfleet manager Garry Hill Picture: Sean Aidan

"We got the rub of the green in the penalty area on the first goal with Michael Cheek but it settled us down.

"I thought we played some very good football in the first half and found ourselves, with a great free-kick from Chris Bush, 2-0 up at half-time.

"That’s the big danger, when you are 2-0 up, against any team, that you start getting lazy or stop working hard enough but it enabled us to do certain things in the second half by resting certain players.

"We’re asking the team for work all the time and then the quality will come through.

"We got a third goal from a Danny Kedwell penalty early in the second half and Michael Cheek’s got another one.

"It was one of those days when he could have walked off with three quite easily."

Hill expects more performances like that from a talented squad who are now within nine points of the National League play-offs.

He said "If it’s there, why don’t we do it every week? They get paid all the time. That’s their job as football players.

Danny Kedwell hits a shot towards the Halifax goal Picture: Sean Aidan
Danny Kedwell hits a shot towards the Halifax goal Picture: Sean Aidan

"I was very excited when I got the opportunity to come to this football club, there’s no secret about that. I didn’t see it coming at Ebbsfleet, not being rude, I don’t know what’s gone on, but when you walk in the door and you see how many quality players you’ve got, it’s quite an exciting challenge to go forward with.

"We’ve changed certain things around, the way we want to play, we’ve changed certain things in respect of what goes on at the training ground and all credit to the players.

"It’s the players who go out on the park and take things on board and they’ve all regrouped together. There were four or five players who weren’t involved and you’ve seen them out on the pitch:

"Jack King at the back did very well, he looked solid with the skipper. Andy Drury was having a superb game in the middle of midfield and there are no problems with any players.

"There comes a time in the game when we’re still learning and still looking at the players at the football club as well as formations.

"Every bit of catch-up time we can give players in respect of minutes when we’re in a position to be able to do that, hopefully for the right result, that’s what we choose to do."

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