On Wednesday evening, Welling United are back on the road when visiting Havant and Waterlooville in a Vanarama National League South match.

Victory over Torquay United put Welling within a whisker of guaranteed safety. Jason Adigun scored the only goal as the Wings continued their good run during which they have lost just twice in the last sixteen matches.

Meanwhile, Havant’s faint hopes of survival were hit when they succumbed to defeat at home to Dartford after taking the lead. James Roberts put the Hawks ahead shortly before the hour mark, and they had hopes of following up their excellent win at Aveley with another three points.

However, eleven minutes later they were behind as Joash Nembhard levelled before Ollie Box scored what turned out to be the winner. That was Dartford’s first win under Adrian Pennock and gave them renewed hope of escaping the drop.

Seven of the Hawks ten wins this season have been claimed at home although the defeat against the Darts was their second consecutive home loss.

When Havant visited Welling at the end of August, the Wings claimed the spoils, winning three-two. Alex MacAllister put the Wings ahead however, Muhammadu Faal, now at Maidstone United, levelled five minutes before half time.

Lewis White put Welling back ahead before David Kamara came off the bench to score his first league goal with seventeen minutes remaining. Callum Kealy threatened to make it a nervy finish but Welling saw the remaining time out without further alarm.

Last season’s game between the two clubs in Hampshire brought the curtain down for the season in fine style for the Wings. Havant still harboured an outside chance of making the play-offs but Kodi Lyons-Foster scored for Welling in the second minute and Ade Azeez added a second fifteen minutes later. Christie Pattisson ensured that the three points would be heading to Welling when adding a third goal in the second half.

Rod Stringer, Welling’s manager, may choose to make changes to the line-up that started as he has been using a core fourteen players and admitted that some ‘were running on empty’ after their win against Torquay.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.