Having returned to winning ways last weekend, Welling United have a tough challenge on Saturday when they travel to Chelmsford City.

Last Saturday, Welling beat Oxford City to end their run of two defeats. After a goal-less first half Connor Dymond put the Wings ahead when he diverted Rob Swaine’s drive into the net. Although Oxford levelled through Kyran Wiltshire, Welling were back ahead within two minutes.

Aaron Cosgrave burst into the penalty area and was brought down and Adam Coombes converted the penalty. This time there was no coming back and Coombes added another, his third of the season, for good measure.

Their last meeting was in the play-offs in May when Welling prevailed to go through to the decider. It was a game full of drama as the Clarets pulled back from a two goal deficit only for Welling to win it with a penalty in stoppage time.

Bradley Goldberg poked Welling ahead at the second attempt after twenty six minutes and the Wings doubled their lead seven minutes later when Thierry Audel’s effort came back off the post, hit the back of goalkeeper Nathan McDonald’s legs and rebounded in.

Slightly against the run of play, Chelmsford pulled one back a minute before half time. Billy Knott delivered and Tom Wraight headed home.

Two chances for Welling to give themselves breathing space were missed and Chelmsford started to throw men forward. Just as it looked as though Welling had snuffed out the threat, Jonny Giles let fly with a speculative effort with seven minutes remaining and it flew in.

Not wanting to have to play extra time Welling went for the jugular but when Danny Mills and Josh Hill both went close with headers it looked as though an additional half hour would be played.

However, with twenty seconds of stoppage time left, Chez Isaac tripped Brendan Kiernan in the penalty area. Having waited patiently, Kiernan took it himself and it had sufficient power to beat McDonald who had guessed correctly.

Even though that was less than four months ago, both teams are much changed so there should be no ill feeling between them, although both of the Clarets’ goal-scorers are still at the club. One of the Chelmsford players from that day, Joe Anderson, has now swapped teams and is expected to be lining up for Welling in this game.

In the current table, there is only one league place and goal difference separating the two teams who have each won two, drawn one, and lost two. Both of the Claret’s victories have come in their two home games so far, four-one against bottom of the league Hampton and Richmond Borough, and four-nil against second from bottom Dartford.

Welling manager Mark Goldberg will have Reece Prestedge, who once had a loan spell at Chelmsford, available for the first time this season and hopes that Jack Jebb may be able to play some part in this game or their home game with Tonbridge Angels on Monday.