When Welling United last played an away league game, they had a strong following for the vital away game at Alfreton.
It is unlikely that they will have the same level of support for an early season Tuesday night game at Forest Green Rovers, but the new look Wings team will be looking to equal, if not better, the successful result in Derbyshire in April which enabled them to retain their position in the highest level of non league football.
Visiting one of the favourites for promotion will not be an easy task for the Wings. In the corresponding fixture last season, Forest Green were comfortable victors, claiming a comfortable 4-1 win. Joe Healy put the Wings ahead in the 19th minute but Jon Parkin equalised three minutes later.
Although level at the break, Forest Green put Welling to the sword in the second half of the game, soon after Jody Brown had taken the helm. Parkin scored his second to put the Greens ahead before former Wing Kurtis Guthrie extended their lead. James Norwood added a fourth to ensure there would be no late scare.
Despite it being a tough ask, the Welling management team remain positive. Coach Paul Barnes “We don’t think there’s anything to fear within the league. Like anyone else we’ve done our homework on Forest Green, we’ve been down to watch them in midweek pre-season, we’ll be playing them accordingly.”
Matt McEntegart confirmed that Saturday’s stoppage time injury to Loui Fazakerley will mean him missing the match for a Welling team already without the sidelined Kieron St. Aimie, Joey Taylor and Barney Williams, However they hope to have Harry Osborn back in contention after he sat out Saturday’s game.
Both clubs started the current campaign with 1-0 victories. Sahr Kabba marked his Welling debut with the goal that saw off Guiseley whilst Parkin was on target for the Greens at Altrincham.
There is additional intrigue in the fact that both manager and assistant manager at Forest Green are former Welling bosses. Green’s manager Ady Pennock twice flirted with promotion at Park View Road before moving on to a coaching role at Stoke City.
His assistant, Jamie Day, had a five year tenure which saw him lead Welling to the Conference South Championship and a comfortable finish in their first year up before making an ill-fated move to Ebbsfleet in December. He was announced as new assistant manager at the New Lawn in May.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.