Friday night football at Bath City means that Welling United have a weekend that’s a bit different from their normal routine.

Due to the World Cup, National League South clubs have been allowed to change their kick off times and the game at Twerton has been brought forward, much to the disappointment of many Wings’ supporters.

Going into the game, there is just a three-point gap between the teams with the hosts in tenth place and the Wings in thirteenth. Both teams come into the game on the back of disappointing results.

Bath were beaten three-nil at St Albans while Welling lost two-one at home to bottom of the table Weymouth.

Inconsistent Welling went into their game full of confidence having knocked Havant and Waterlooville out of the F.A. Trophy one week earlier.

When Stefan Payne put them ahead against Weymouth, they looked to be on their way to an important victory. However, once the visitors had levelled, they lost their way and despite Payne having what looked like a good goal disallowed at one-one, and Taylor Maloney hitting the bar in injury time, the Wings didn’t really deserve to get anything out of the game.

Defeat at St. Albans also came off the back of an F.A. Trophy win for Bath. They had defeated Billericay Town three-one away to take their place in the next round. Their last home game was abandoned following a sickening injury to Alex Fletcher.

Before that, the Romans had lost two home games in a row, both one-nil, versus Dover Athletic and Chelmsford City.

In the corresponding game last season, Bath won two-one. Elliott Frear put the Romans ahead in the second half and Fletcher made sure with ten minutes remaining. Although Arthur Penney pulled a goal back in stoppage time it was too little too late for the Wings.

Bath’s recent home form will give Welling hope, but they will need to recover their early season form if they are going to return home with at least a point.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.