Following their disappointing F.A. Cup exit last Saturday, Welling United return to National League South action when they visit Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday.

Hopes of a good F.A. Cup run for the Wings were dashed when well beaten, three-nil at Weymouth.

Now manager Warren Feeney will be looking for them to regain the form that saw them go through the month of September unbeaten in all competitions. He will also be keen on them finding the resolute defensive performances that resulted in four consecutive clean sheets at the start of that month.

Although Hampton are down in seventeenth place, they are only seven points behind the Wings who are in sixth. They had an emphatic F.A. Cup victory with a six-one win over Paulton Rovers to follow up their one-nil success at Hungerford Town and will want to extend their run.

Their home league record is one win, two draws and one defeat having played four at home and six away and Welling supporters will recognise three of their players. Ade Shokunbi, Marcus Sablier and Stefan Ilic all donned the Wings kit last season.

In last term’s corresponding match, Feeney’s first in charge, the Wings were beaten. James Roberts put the Beavers ahead with a first half free kick and another foul in dangerous position after the break resulted in an opportunity that Kyran Farrell curled home. Dipo Akinyemi pulled one back with seven minutes remaining, but it was only a consolation.

Not too much can be taken from that as only Chi Ezennolim and Jamie Sendles-White remain from the Welling starting eleven from that day, and just three of last season’s Hampton squad were on duty against Paulton in their cup match.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.