Although still very early in the season, Welling United’s visit to Concord Rangers on Saturday could have massive implications.
The two clubs are only separated at the bottom of the Vanarama National League South by the one goal more that Welling have scored than the team they visit on Saturday.
Mark Goldberg, Welling’s manager, admitted the importance of the game “It doesn’t get any bigger for us at the moment. You take every game as it comes. We need something to kick start our season. I don’t really want to preach what I’m going to do. I’d rather just be able to get on with the job right now and try and prove it.”
He has taken action by recruiting cover in midfield with the signing of Margate’s Ali Fuseini. The former Bromley and Sutton United player will be expected to start at Concord.
Their performance in Truro last Saturday was their best of the season however their display at home to Chelmsford City two days later, especially in the first half, was probably their worst.
Goldberg has not tried to hide the fact that things are not progressing on the field of play to his liking. “It’s a bit sorry at the moment. There’s a lot of good work that’s going into this club behind the scenes and it will manifest itself on the pitch in time. Eventually we’re going to grind out results and in my opinion, we’ll be fine.
“I’ve been in this position before at Bromley when I was faced with a very young inexperienced squad and the next year we led the league for the first ten months of the season and the following season we got promoted.
“I’m an experienced manager in this division and I know how to get out of this hole but it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Injuries haven’t helped. Centre half George Allen is yet to feature this season and Dean Leacock is still out. A further centre back, Sean Francis, took a bad knock at Truro and is also unlikely to return on Saturday. Further casualties from the Cornwall trip include Harry Crawford and Sam Hatton. Neither are expected to play at Concord.
Danny Waldren will return to centre midfield following his paternity leave, however, and Goldberg is hopeful that Dean Morgan’s international clearance will be approved in time to make his Wings’ debut.
Concord supporters are yet to see their team score at home this season. They have lost all three home games 0-1 v Ebbsfleet United, 0-2 v Truro City and 0-1 v Maidenhead United.
Points they have won have come away to Oxford City (2-2) and at Whitehawk (1-1).
Both of Welling’s points have come on the road as well and they have not lost away since the opening game of the season. They will look to extend that run on Saturday, preferably with their first win of the season.
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