This evening Welling United are back in Vanarama National League South action when visiting Braintree Town.

Incredibly, this is Welling’s most northerly trip of the season, however, with so many clubs in the South West now in the league, it makes sense to have this fixture scheduled in midweek. 

After going ten league games without a win since beating Tonbridge Angels away, Welling picked up three points on Saturday with an exciting victory against Slough Town.

It looked like plain sailing when they cruised into a two goal lead through a Tristan Abrahams penalty and an opportunist strike by Kain Adom. Just as had been the case at Dover Athletic five days earlier, they then failed to push on.

Goals by Tyrese Dyce and Temi Eweka, either side of half time brought the scores level before Cameron Green put the Wings back ahead. John Goddard drew the teams level again and it looked like a fifth consecutive draw for the Wings before Taylor Curran headed the winner in stoppage time.

For Braintree, it was a less happy day. They dropped out of the top seven with a defeat at Eastbourne Borough who themselves eased out of the bottom four.

Billy Vigar put the hosts ahead in the second minute but Tom Blackwell levelled eighteen minutes later. Fletcher Holman put the Sports ahead in first half stoppage time and Leone Gravata sealed the points with ten minutes remaining.

At home, the Iron have won five, drawn three and lost just once, to Maidstone United back in August.

Last season’s corresponding game was a resounding victory for Braintree. Ade Azeez scored for the Wings on the half hour mark but Baris Altintop levelled four minutes later and Alfie Matthews put the hosts ahead before half time.

Further goals in the second half from Lamar Reynolds and Matt Rush sealed Welling’s fate.  

Both teams are much changed since then, and there may only be two or three players out of the two squads who played in last season’s game so that cannot be considered as a guide on this term’s match.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.