The two form teams of the Vanarama National League South meet at Plainmoor on Saturday when Welling United travel to Torquay United.
When Torquay won at Dartford on Tuesday night, it was their fourth consecutive victory and took them two points clear of Welling at the top of the league. However they have played two games more.
Steve King’s Wings have been equally consistent having tasted defeat just once since 14th August. They are yet to suffer a Saturday league defeat with their three losses having all been in midweek games.
Last Saturday, Welling defeated Hungerford Town 3-1 at Park View Road. The first half was a tight affair with the hosts in control. Bradley Goldberg’s excellent finish from a fine team move put them ahead but they conceded on the stroke of half time.
They came out for the second half at a much higher tempo but it was the introduction of Danny Mills on seventy minutes that made the difference. Within four minutes of his introduction he set up the goal that put Welling back ahead. He rose to meet a deep cross and headed towards the far post for Nassim L’Ghoul to slide in and knock it home.
Mills added the icing on the cake when he added a third in the 90th minute. Montel Agyemang’s dead ball delivery was knocked back by Gavin McCallum for Mills to finish at close range.
On Tuesday night, Torquay were probably second best in the first half at Dartford but poor decision making by the Darts in the final third, and a miraculous goal line clearance by Kyle Cameron from Andre Coker, meant that the two teams went in level at the interval.
After the break, Torquay were the stronger team and the full time side wore Dartford down. It did not come as a great surprise when they went ahead with twenty minutes remaining. A high cross-field ball was allowed to travel a long way and Ruairi Keaton, nephew of Boyband singer Ronan, controlled well before giving Bailey Vose no chance in the Dartford goal.
Three minutes remained when on-fire striker Jamie Reid added an excellent second to guarantee the points.
It is nearly three years since Welling last visited Plainmoor in the season of their relegation from what was then the Conference National. The first half was uneventful but Welling shaded it and came closest when a Nortei Nortey smashed a twenty-five yard effort against the crossbar.
However, Nathan Smith and Iffy Allen scored early in the second half and there was no comeback for Dean Frost’s side.
For much of this season, Welling have struggled with injuries but Julien Anau, Jordan Gibbons and Arnaud Mendy are all expected to be available to compete for places. It could be only Jack Jebb, who is expected to be out for the season, who is unavailable. That will give King plenty of options over which to ponder and he will have the team well prepared for the challenge.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.