On Saturday, Welling United visit Hungerford Town in another important Vanarama National League South derby fixture.

They have claimed two points in their last three games to take them off bottom spot but know that they will be in for another tough game against the Crusaders. Should Hungerford get anything less than three wins out of three, their play-off dreams will be over.

At home, Hungerford have won seven, drawn two and lost nine. However, having looked nailed on for a top seven finish when winning at Ebbsfleet, they have lost four league games on the spin and have not scored in any of them.

When the two teams met at Park View Road on the opening game of the season, Hungerford enjoyed a comfortable four-one victory. Simo Mbonkwi put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute and added a second twenty minutes later.

Dipo Akinyemi pulled one back five minutes before the break, but Ryan Seager restored their two goal advantage from the penalty spot in first half injury time. Ten minutes into the second half, Mbonkwi completed his hat-trick and the goalscoring.

In November, the two clubs met again, in an F.A. Trophy match at Bulpit Lane. That game was a closer affair, and the Wings could consider themselves a little unfortunate when losing three-two. The first half was tight, and the opening goal did not come until injury time when Ade Shokunbi flicked it home. However, Welling were unable to take the lead into the break as Seager levelled within a minute.

Mason Saunders-Henry restored Welling’s lead just past the hour mark and they looked like seeing it through when Jack Sims saved Seager’s penalty. Hungerford had other ideas and scored two in the last ten minutes through George Smith and Rhys Tyler.

On Monday, Welling entertain Maidstone United and any spectators going to the game should be aware that the game will be a segregated all-ticket match.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.