Welling United have a swift opportunity to put Saturday’s disappointing performance at home to Dover Athletic behind them with a Monday visit to Braintree Town.
As a result of their defeat to Dover, and Braintree’s loss at Boreham Wood, Welling slipped into the relegation zone.
Braintree have problems of their own, albeit of an entirely different nature. Due to pitch difficulties, they have only been able to play one home league game since October, a 0-0 draw with Torquay United.
It is anticipated that the going will be heavy so fitness may be a big issue for the two teams playing their second game in 48 hours.
Centre backs, Kevin Lokko and Zach Fagan, both went down injured in the first half against Dover and are not expected to feature. Lokko had x-rays on Sunday to ascertain the extent of his injury and news of the results is awaited.
Loui Fazakerley may choose to retain the three at the back that played the entire second half against Dover. Alternatively, he could bring back Harry Osbourne following the completion of his suspension.
However, he and his management team’s main issue is at the other end of the pitch as Welling are the joint lowest goalscorers in the league. They will need to work especially hard at the Amlin Stadium as only Cheltenham Town have conceded fewer than the Iron.
Wings’ Head Coach Matt McEntegart admitted after the Dover game that he was in two minds about whether another game so soon after Saturday’s disappointment is a good thing. “It is and it isn’t. It’s not easy to play two games in three days, but at the same time when you’ve just been beat, as a player, that next game can’t come quick enough.
“You’d go out and play another game right now if you could, to try and get that winning feeling. So, we would definitely take the game on Monday. I know there’s obviously talk around the weather, they’ve had a few games called off. We, as a team would definitely be pushing for that game to be on. We would definitely want the game rather than having the day off.”
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.