Saturday’s encounter with Eastleigh will be one of his side’s toughest of the season according to Chelmsford City’s Head Coach, Glenn Pennyfather, who is relieved to go into the game with a nearly fully fit squad.
Despite morale-boosting victories over Basingstoke Town (3-2) and Woking (3-0) to open up the campaign, Pennyfather will warn his players they will need to maintain the high standards they’ve set themselves if they are to come away from the fixture with a victory against Ian Baird’s Hampshire challengers at Melbourne Stadium.
“This is going to be hard work,” he explained, with Adam Tann the only player needing a fitness test. “Everybody said about the tough start we had on paper and this is one of the toughest of the six. I know Ian Baird well and his sides don’t give you an inch so it might take a different kind of performance than what we’ve served up so far to beat them.”
Eastleigh started the campaign in a strangely stuttering manner with defeat at home to Bishop’s Stortford thought a midweek 4-0 thumping of Dorchester Town restored spirit in the camp, Pennyfather adding: “They had a disappointing reverse on Saturday but good teams bounce back and they’ll arrive full of confidence after their away win. We have to make sure our house is in order when they get here.”
Young forward Ricky Modeste will return from suspension to become available again for the Clarets and Pennyfather knows it will take every ounce of effort his players have got to secure the points. He said: “They will be very physical so we will have to keep up our tempo and sharpness as we won’t be able to carry any passengers.”
