Having only played one away game since January Welling United embark on a run of three successive matches on the road with a Tuesday evening encounter at Farnborough.

The Wings’ eight match unbeaten Vanarama National League South run has taken them out of the bottom four and they now need to replicate their home form when travelling.

On Saturday they hosted Braintree Town who had won their previous seven games. Although manager Rod Stringer said that before the game he would have probably accepted the point that they won, he was ultimately disappointed following the two-two draw. 

They started slowly but went ahead from their first meaningful attack. Cameron Green slid Sonny Fish in and his square pass across the face of the penalty area was turned in by Jack Burchell. Seven minutes later Braintree levelled when Reice Charles-Cook could only claw Shaquille Coulthirst’s header out as far as Aaron Blair and he nodded home the rebound. 

Reece Grant put Welling back ahead in the last minute of first half regulation time when converting a penalty after Dominic Odusanya had handled Crossley Lema’s shot. However, there was still time for the Iron to equalise again. Lachlan Byrd was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area and Coulthirst fired home from the spot.

After the break, Jack Sims saved from Sonny Fish, Anthony Grant and Riccardo Di Trolio before the teams settled for a point apiece.

Meanwhile, Farnborough were hosting league leaders Yeovil Town. The Glovers went ahead in the thirteenth minute and appeared to have everything under control when going two up just before the hour mark. Olly Pendlebury gave Farnborough hope of getting something out of the game four minutes later and the win for Yeovil was only guaranteed when they scored a third with five minutes remaining. 

When Welling and Farnborough met at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium earlier this season, the Wings were involved in another two-two draw in which they twice held the lead. At that stage, Odusanya was a Welling player and he put the Wings ahead before Pendlebury equalised in first half stoppage time.

TJ Bramble put Welling back ahead with three minutes remaining but Dan Gifford ensured that the honours were shared in time added on. 

At home, Farnborough’s defeat by Yeovil was only their third of the season, where they have won nine and drawn six. They are currently fourteenth in the league, eight points clear of the Wings, both with eleven games remaining.

Last season’s corresponding game in Hampshire ended in a goal-less draw. The hosts had the best opportunity when awarded a dubious penalty. Long throw expert Jordan Norville-Williams stepped up and took it but Myles Roberts went the right way to save.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.