Boxing Day heralds the first game of the festive season double between Tonbridge Angels and Welling United in the Vanarama National League South.

Jay Saunders’ Angels have made a solid start to the season and are currently in tenth place in the table, three points off the play-off zone.

Welling started the season well but have stuttered of late and are seven points behind Tonbridge, although they have played two games fewer.

Both teams had tough results last time out. The Angels crashed to a five-nil home defeat against improving Weymouth. It was all square midway through the first half before the Terras shocked their hosts with a four-goal blitz.

Brad Ash completed an eight-minute hat-trick early in the second period to finalise the scoring. That was two weeks ago although they have played a friendly at Margate in the meantime.

Although Welling’s F.A. Trophy tie at Aldershot was called off due to the weather on Saturday, they were able to play the game on Tuesday. For the first forty-five minutes, it was hard to tell who the National League side was but once the Shots went ahead ten minutes after the break, they were the better team.

However, Welling held them at bay and had a couple of half chances themselves before conceding twice in the closing minutes.

When Welling visited Tonbridge in April last season, both were keen to claim the points needed to ease their way clear of relegation. Tommy Wood scored for the Angels inside the first fifteen minutes and there was no further scoring. As a result, Tonbridge gave themselves a lot of breathing space while Welling were left in strife.

It will be an interesting afternoon for Devonte Aransibia. He started the season at Chelmsford City before moving to Welling. After a handful of games, without really making an impression, he signed for the Angels where he has scored three goals in his last five games.

The return fixture will be on New Year’s Day and both encounters can be expected to be competitive.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.