A draw at Gateshead was followed by victory at Lincoln City ahead of Welling United’s big challenge on Saturday.

Loui Fazakerly takes his team to Vanarama Conference Premier league leaders Barnet for a game both teams will want to win for very different reasons.

Whilst the hosts have Bristol Rovers, Macclesfield Town and Grimsby Town hot on their heels, the Wings are in the relegation zone, four points away from safety.

Both teams will be missing a player through suspension. Barnet’s David Stephens was dismissed at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night whilst Welling’s Joe Healy serves the final  match of his three game ban having been sent off in the televised game against Altrincham.

After the coming and going of players during January and February, Fazakerley has looked to restore stability. He has already brought two players, Aristide Bassele and Michael Chambers, back on loan who had previously played for the club this season.

This week, he extended the loans of Sam Berry and Jonathan Henly for the rest of the current campaign.

Berry will look to gain further experience of first team football before returning to Sheffield United. Henly’s performances have helped him retain his place in the Scotland U21 squad announced this week.

Earlier in the season, the two teams met at Park View Road. Barnet claimed the three points through John Akinde’s injury time winner. The league’s leading scorer had put the Bees ahead in the first half, but Healy equalised just before the break. It appeared that the spoils would be shared until the visitors claimed all three points at the death.

When the clubs met at the Hive last season, Edgar Davids was coming towards the end of his spell as Barnet manager and the two sides played out an uneventful goal-less draw.

Although their respective league positions may suggest that Barnet will be able to enjoy a routine victory, Welling will take confidence from their last two away results, whilst Barnet have lost their last two home games.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.