Kelly: Competition for seats is important as Eastley strives for consistency

Left back Kelly, who joined the Spitfires in 2021, has made 12 league appearances this season, vying with Vincent Harper for a spot on Lee Bradbury’s team.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, the 25-year-old shared: “There was competition for places all over the field.

“Everyone in that dressing room is well aware that if you hadn’t come to the game, you would have started on the bench or would have been in the stands until the next game.

“It is important that we have this competition. Competition is good for me personally. I just have to keep going, just try to lead the field, try to be the voice and try to keep the ball well.

“What is good for us is that we are different defenders.

“Vinnie clearly loves to get high, use his pace and fight people. He is very good at it. And obviously I’m bringing in a different style of trying to get lower and get the ball and maybe look for midfielders that come in the last third and try to pick them up and come in and cross into the box.

Last year and this year we played quite a bit together, (in) left back (and) left mid. So that’s good, but like I said, the competition is good everywhere and hopefully we can continue.”

Eastley will visit Woking for the FA Cup next game this weekend after their mid-week trip to Dagenham and Redbridge was postponed. The Spitfires have not won consecutive games since August, and Kelly urged his teammates to be more consistent.

“Our seat at the table is in season,” Kelly said.

“We either put on a decent streak and won a few, scored a few points, or we played maybe three games without actually scoring a single point.

“So he’s trying to do it between them, trying to be consistent and hopefully we can do that in the next few games.”