It’s back to Vanarama National League South action for Welling United on Tuesday evening when they visit Farnborough.

Both teams had a break from league action on Saturday. Whilst Farnborough were inactive due to their scheduled opponents still being in the F.A. Trophy, Welling entertained Chesterfield in the knock-out tournament.

Much was made of the fact that the Spireites played a youthful team, as winning the National League and gaining promotion is their priority, however it was two young Welling players who grabbed the headlines. Enoch Muwonge, who only started due to the eleventh hour withdrawal of Adam Roscrow, scored Welling’s second after seventeen year old strike partner David Kamara had opened the scoring just after half time. The Wings’ reward for progression is a home game with Barnet.

It will be the second meeting between Welling and Farnborough this season. In October, an entertaining game finished all square. Dominic Odusanya opened the scoring for the Wings shortly before the half hour mark but in the seventh minute of first half stoppage time, Ollie Pendlebury levelled directly from a free kick. Welling thought that they had won it when TJ Bramble put them back ahead with three minutes remaining but Dan Gifford’s glancing header two minutes later meant that the spoils were shared.

There is a marked difference in Farnborough’s home and away form. Seven of there nine victories so far this season have come at their Easy As Hgv Stadium in Cherrywood Road. The victories have been supplemented by four draws. Their four-two home defeat at the hands of Havant and Waterlooville on New Year’s Day was just their second at their own ground with Worthing being the only other club to take maximum points.

When the two teams met in North Hampshire last season, it was another game in which neither club did enough to win it. Goalkeeper Myles Roberts was Welling’s saviour when Farnborough were awarded a highly contentious penalty. Jordan Norville-Williams took the responsibility but Roberts guessed correctly and palmed the shot away.

After Saturday’s game with Chesterfield, Welling manager Danny Bloor said “It will be a stronger team. There will be at least one new player in for Tuesday. We’ve set targets and we need to try and achieve those. Everyone at the club is pulling in the same direction and we’ll give it our best.”

Both clubs are yet to record their first point of 2024 so will be eager to give their respective supporters something to cheer about.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden