Having not played a game away from home, Welling United take to the road on Saturday with a visit to Macclesfield Town.

January was tough for the Wings as Jody Brown took over a threadbare squad and has had to recruit players quickly without the luxury of a pre-season to give them time to gel.

Although they have suffered two home defeats, there were long spells in both games that will give them grounds for optimism.

Veteran signing, Darren Purse, has had plenty of experience of the ups and downs of football. He said “It’s going to be a difficult game but maybe the way we set ourselves up, it will suit us.”

On transfer deadline day, Welling signed striker Jason Williams on loan from Southend United on a youth signing for the rest of the season. He had a prolific spell with Chelmsford City on the Vanarama Conference South earlier in the season and he will be keen to prove himself at a higher level.

Brown had hoped to have another new signing, Anthony Jeffries, available last week but for a reason known only to themselves, Boreham Wood refused to release his playing registration forcing Welling to put in a ‘seven day approach’. Hopefully, the formalities will be completed in time for the game in Cheshire.

Jake Gallagher, the Welling captain, will be absent following his sending off last weekend, and the Wings’ failure to have the harsh dismissal overturned.

It will be a tough trip for the Wings. Macclesfield are flying high in third place in the league. They also made a deadline day loan signing bringing in former midfielder Lee Bell back from Burton Albion.

Their home form is good, having won ten and drawn four. Only Grimsby Town have come away from Moss Rose with all three points.

In the corresponding fixture last season, there was little to choose between the clubs in the  first half but two goals in quick succession early in the second period took the wind out of the Wings’ sails. Ross Lafayette pulled one back with three minutes remaining and Loick Pires came close to rescuing an unlikely point in injury time.

Despite that, the Wings will have enjoyed another week training together and have no pressure of high expectation. Coming away with a good result could be just the springboard Welling need to push themselves into mid-table.