Following two morale boosting victories, Welling United visit Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday.

Although Peter Taylor started his Welling management spell with a defeat at Oxford City two very different wins have launched the Wings up into a mid-table position.

They won well at Chippenham Town scoring three well worked goals. Then, last Saturday they hosted Braintree Town and had to show the other side of their game. The visitors were very direct and bombarded them with long throws and corners. However, the Wings defended so well that goalkeeper Jack Sims only had to make two saves meaning that Ade Shokunbi’s first half goal was sufficient to win the match. 

It has been a difficult start to the season for Hemel Hempstead and they have just four points from their eight games played so far. Their one victory was at Billericay Town three weeks ago, a result that cost manager Kevin Watson his job. Their other point came from a two all draw at home to Eastbourne Borough.

Like Welling, they were knocked out of the F.A. Cup at the point of entry to a team from a lower league. Welling were beaten by Harrow Borough while Hemel might have thought that they had done the hard part when going two up within ten minutes at Ware only to be pegged back and undone by a last minute equaliser. In the replay, Ware scored the only goal on the hour mark.

Last season’s corresponding game at Hemel was won by Welling by the odd goal of three in awful weather conditions. Early on, Welling had to dig in but they grew into the game and Shokunbi fired them ahead ten minutes before the break.

Five minutes after the interval Hemel levelled with a fortuitous goal when Mustapha Olagunju could only divert a cross into his own net. However, after a further five minutes Welling regained their lead when Lyle Della-Verde blasted home from twenty-five yards.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.