Two teams who had a miserable Boxing Day meet on Saturday as Welling United visit Eastbourne Borough on the south coast. 

Both will be looking to put their festive period back on course on the 3G pitch of Langney Sports Club. 

Mark Goldberg’s absence from the Welling United dug-out on Boxing Day has drawn a lot of criticism from supporters even though his trip had been arranged before the decision was made for him to name himself Welling manager, according to his assistant Hugo Langton. He will also miss the trip to Eastbourne with Langton again taking the reins.

Against Dartford, the Wings should have been awarded a penalty when Tom Bonner stopped Moses Emmanuel’s shot with his arm but an equally clear cut one at the other end was awarded when Connor Dymond tripped Darren McQueen. McQueen fired home from the spot.

Although Welling continued to enjoy the better of the remainder of the first half they couldn’t find a leveller and Dartford assumed complete control after the break. McQueen scored again and missed a great chance to complete his hat-trick before Elliott Romain completed the scoring.

For Eastbourne, it was even worse as they went down four-nil at Dorking Wanderers conceding twice in each half. The Sports have now lost four league games on the spin having scored just once and conceded thirteen in those games. They were also held at home by Salisbury City in the F.A. Trophy and have a replay to contest in Wiltshire early in January.

There is little to choose between the two sides in the league table with the Wings one point ahead of the Sports in 17th place while Eastbourne occupy 20th place, one spot above the drop zone.

When the two teams met at Park View Road earlier in the season, they played out a cagey goal-less draw.

After the Dartford game, Langton confirmed that he would be speaking to Goldberg and first team coach Osei Sankofa and decide upon the starting line-up.

He was hopeful that Chiori Johnson would be ready to return at right back but suggested that other squad members may be drafted in due to the lack of recovery time of just forty-eight hours between the two games.

That could mean a Welling debut for Dipo Akinyemi, a return to the first team for Gavin McCallum against his previous club or a start for Nathan Green who has impressed twice recently when coming on off the bench.