There is a big Vanarama National League South fixture at Longmead Stadium on Saturday when Tonbridge Angels entertain Welling United.
Seventeenth place Angels host the Wings who are bottom of the table, but there are only three points between them and whoever wins will get a massive boost with just the team who comes bottom being relegated.
Steve McKimm’s side will not be lacking in confidence having only lost one home game in 2022. They were defeated four-three at Hemel Hempstead Town last Saturday but are in a very solid mid-table position in the form guide.
It is difficult to predict how Welling will perform as new manager Warren Feeney has been busy overhauling his squad. They had no game last weekend following their one-nil victory over Chelmsford City one week earlier. Their hopes of staying up all depend on how quickly all the fresh players gel together.
When the two teams met at Park View Road back in November, Welling claimed all three points courtesy of a strike by Brad Stevenson midway through the first half.
Due to Covid-19 curtailing the last two seasons, Tonbridge have not entertained the Wings since returning to the National League South. To get promoted they won at Metropolitan Police in the play-off decider at the end of the season. The winner, in the 97th minute, was scored by Tom Derry who is now at Welling.
Other Former Angels now in the Welling squad are Stevenson and Henry Burnett. Tonbridge players to have previously been at Park View Road include Craig Braham-Barrett, Adam Coombes, Jonathan Henly and Teddy Perkins.
That should add spice to what should be tense battle with so much at stake.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.