Saturday sees an interesting local derby between two sides who felt the effect of the new managerial appointment at Gillingham last week as Bromley host Welling United in the FA Trophy 2nd Round at Hayes Lane.

The Ravens lost Assistant Manager Steve Lovell, while The Wings lost manager Jamie Day to Ade Pennock’s new set up at Priestfield, with both sides losing their first post departure games last weekend.

Bromley suffered a humbling 5-1 loss at home to title chasing Forest Green Rovers in the National league, Rovers totally outplayed Neil Smith’s side and could have scored a lot more, but for Alan Julian in goal.

The Ravens lost the services of centre back Rob Swaine on Tuesday ahead of a friendly at Whyteleafe, where a team of trialists, squad & academy players ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Bradley Goldberg.     

Welling lost 2-0 at Hemel Hempstead, halting a great run of form under Day which had seen them make their way out of the bottom three and back up the National league South table after a poor start to the campaign under former Bromley manager Mark Goldberg.

After leaving Bromley last February, following three spells over nine years as manager, Goldberg took over Welling in the spring as owner and initially first team manager too, before bringing in Day for his second spell as boss this Autumn.

Bromley came out on top in both league meetings last season, but the teams have changed personnel significantly since then and some will be lining up on the opposite side.

Former Bromley players Adam Coombes, Danny Waldren, Sean Francis, Pierre Joseph-Dubois and Ali Fuseini all line up for The Wings this season, while George Porter has come the other way and Bradley Goldberg will be lining up against a side managed by his father, giving the game even more edge than normal.

After making several changes for the Forest Green game Bromley manager Smith spoke of his disappointment in the performance on Saturday and challenged the players to give him a positive response this week.

Welling’s Caretaker management team of Harry Wheeler & Tristan Lewis were also disappointed with their side’s performance at Hemel as they take the job on a game by game basis.       

To make it to round two Bromley won 5-3 at Leiston in a replay following a 1-1 draw at Hayes Lane, while Welling beat Concord Rangers 1-0 away in the final qualifying round, before handing out an 8-1 thumping to Hythe Town in the last game at Park View Road.  

With both sides containing familiar faces and looking to rediscover their winning touch, plus with a sight of Wembley on the far horizon, this should be a cracking local derby cup tie.

Picture supplied by Ed Boyden.