LONDON, CMC – Grenada international Kairo Mitchell and St Lucia forward Dominic Poleon scored for the second time in many games but suffered contrasting fates in the National League here Saturday.
While Mitchell’s second-half goal at Spotland Stadium in Greater Manchester earned Rochdale a 2-0 win over Eastleigh, Poleon’s first-half strike helped Ebbsfleet United compete early on at Gateshead International Stadium in the northeast before going under 4-1 to the hosts.
Rochdale, who lost 3-2 at Woking on Tuesday, lie 11th in the standings on six points, while Ebbsfleet, who won 2-0 at home to Aldershot Town also on Tuesday, is one below in 12th on the same number of issues.
Rochdale took control of their contest early and was rewarded in the 10th minute when Ian Henderson converted his 138th goal for the club with a clinical finish at the back post.
Tyrese Sinclair, the son of former Jamaica international Frank Sinclair, sent an effort narrowly wide before Mitchell forced a save out of goalkeeper Joe McDonnell in first-half stoppage.
However, the 25-year-old Mitchell made amends moments afterward with a long-range stunner, receiving the ball with his back to the goal before twisting to curl a superb 30-yard volley past McDonnell.
The Eastleigh shot-stopper also endured a busy second half, called into action to turn away goal-bound shots from both Sinclair and Mitchell.
Meanwhile, the 29-year-old Poleon drew Ebbsfleet level after falling behind to Gateshead in the fifth minute, scoring on the rebound after goalkeeper Archie Mair had saved his initial effort following a low cross from winger Greg Cundle.
However, that was the last sign of resistance from the visitors as a Stephen Wearne hat-trick (54th, 64th, 88th) put Gateshead out of sight in the second half.
In League One, Reggae Boy aspirant Demitri Mitchell scored his first goal of the season as Exeter City beat Carlisle United 2-0 to go seventh in the standings.
The 26-year-old, whose grandparents are Jamaican and pledged his allegiance to the Caribbean powerhouses last year, scored in the 81st minute at Brunton Park to double the visitors’ advantage after Tryan Trevitt’s 68th-minute strike.
and then 