Weather conditions have played havoc with Welling United’s travel in recent weeks and they’ll be hopeful of better luck this weekend in the F.A. Trophy.
Their 28th December game at Braintree Town was postponed after a pitch inspection. Then they visited Dover Athletic and managed nearly seventy minutes of football before that game was abandoned.
Finally, their Tuesday night game at Torquay United was called off just before lunchtime on the day of the game, early enough to stop the team from travelling, but not the supporters travelling by train.
On Saturday they travel to Havant and Waterlooville, another club who have had difficulty in staging games having not been able to host one since 19th December.
The Hawks are having as tough a season as Welling in the league, placed one from bottom of the Vanarama National South. Five of their six league victories have come at home, however, and they beat Forest Green Rovers 2-0 in the last round.
Welling progressed to the second round courtesy of a 4-3 victory at Tilbury Town. Kieron St. Aimie gave the Wings an early lead and George Porter added a brace before half time.
Ricky Wellard made it four after the break and Welling were good value for their lead before three late Tilbury goals made it appear a closer match for Welling than it was.
Ross Lafayette scored the only goal eleven minutes from time on the last occasion that the two clubs met at Westleigh Park back in 2013. Current Welling striker Sahr Kabba was on the Hawks’ substitute’s bench that day.
Loui Fazakerley has made it clear that the F.A. Trophy is a tournament that he and his management team are taking very seriously so they are expected to put out a full strength side. A victory there could give the team the lift they need before returning to their campaign to remain in the Vanarama National League.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.