Erith and Belvedere host Welling Town in a South East Counties Football League Premier Division local derby at Park View Road in Welling.  

Last season, both teams were promoted from Division One with Welling winning the league ahead of the Deres who were runners up so there is a little more in the rivalry than just the close proximity.

Owen Jones resigned as manager of Erith and Belvedere following defeat at home to Hollands and Blair. His assistant, Stuart Webb, has stepped in as caretaker manager but has overseen two heavy defeats, four-nil at home to Lordswood and seven-nil at K Sports, as he looks to rebuild the decimated side.

They find themselves placed eighteenth in the league, three points above Crowborough Athletic in nineteenth place with nobody below them following Greenwich Borough’s resignation from the league. 

Eleventh placed Welling Town have also had a restructure since being promoted and they have also hit a sticky patch. They have only won once in their last ten league games after a very strong start to the season. However, their four-nil victory over Crowborough just over a week ago followed a draw at Deal that suggests that the tide might be turning for the Boots. 

With his team seemingly out of reach of promotion, but with no fear of relegation, as much as Welling manager Danny Wakeling will want to win the game, he might have one eye on next season.

Although this is their first league meeting this season between the two clubs, they were drawn against each other in the F.A. Vase back in October at Bayliss Avenue with Welling running out five-one winners. However, both teams are much changed since then so that does not offer much of a form guide.