Striker who netted a Fratton Park promotion winner a decade ago set to face Hawks this weekend

Hawks will this weekend face a striker who scored a promotion-clinching goal at Fratton Park almost a decade ago.
Norwich City's Simeon Jackson heads past Portsmouth's Jamie Ashdown to clinch promotion to the Premier League in 2011. Pic: EmpicsNorwich City's Simeon Jackson heads past Portsmouth's Jamie Ashdown to clinch promotion to the Premier League in 2011. Pic: Empics
Norwich City's Simeon Jackson heads past Portsmouth's Jamie Ashdown to clinch promotion to the Premier League in 2011. Pic: Empics

Simeon Jackson’s header past Jamie Ashdown back in May 2011 took Norwich City into the Premier League.

It was one of nine goals in a seven-game purple patch for the Canadian-born player who had signed for the Canaries for £600,000 from Gillingham the previous summer.

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Now in the twilight of his career - he’s 34 next month - Jackson recently joined Chelmsford City after being released by EFL outfit Stevenage.

Simeon Jackson, right, with Portsmouth's Hermann Hreidarsson at Fratton Park in 2011. Pic: Empics.Simeon Jackson, right, with Portsmouth's Hermann Hreidarsson at Fratton Park in 2011. Pic: Empics.
Simeon Jackson, right, with Portsmouth's Hermann Hreidarsson at Fratton Park in 2011. Pic: Empics.

Prior to dropping down into the National League South, Jackson hadn’t played a senior game since February 8 2020.

His last regular action was for St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League in 2018/19.

But he netted on his Chelmsford debut last Saturday at Oxford City after coming off the bench, a consolation in a 4-1 reverse.

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He then started Monday’s 1-0 home defeat to leaders Dorking - the Essex club’s seventh South loss in 10 matches.

Their only victories in that time were against Braintree (4-2 at home) and at lofty St Albans (2-0).

Charlie Sheringham netted in both of those games, as he had done on his Clarets debut at Westleigh Park in early December when Tommy Wright’s first-ever National League treble gave the hosts a 3-1 victory.

Sheringham netted five South goals in his loan spell before returning to divisional rivals Dartford.

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Adam Morgan is Chelmsford’s top scorer this season with seven.

He made three Europa League appearances for Liverpool in 2012/13, with his first start coming in front of over 44,000 fans at Anfield against Hearts. Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Luis Suarez and Jamie Carragher were also in the starting XI while Morgan was replaced on the hour mark by Raheem Sterling.

Clarets boss Robbie Simpson has also signed striker Jake Cass since their loss at Hawks in December. He had been playing for Chesham United, whose Southern Premier League South season has been paused since early November.

Hawks won 2-0 at the Melbourne Stadium when they last visited Chelmsford for a league game in April 2018 - first half goals coming from Jason Prior and Wes Fogden.

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Paul Doswell’s side did lose 2-1 there in last season’s FA Trophy, though, with Simpson bagging a last-minute winner.

The Clarets have lost five of their last six home games, but Hawks are on a run of four straight league losses - their worst run since September and October 2015.

Hawks have already lost more league games in 14 matches this term - six - than they did in 34 fixtures (five losses) in 2019/20.