On Saturday, Welling United are on the road to the west country for the final time this season with a visit to Truro City, who are in third place in the Vanarama National League South.

Since mid-January, the Wings have travelled to Torquay United, Weston-super-Mare, Weymouth and Chippenham Town, but the trip to Cornwall is by far the longest journey. 

Their most recent league game was played last Saturday when they hosted Slough Town. The Wings were good value for their two goal lead with both goals scored by Scott Kashket. However, Slough pulled one back after the break and put Welling under pressure before grabbing a point with an equaliser, six minutes before the end.

New first team coach, Colin Reid, stood alongside Stringer for the first time since they worked together at Bishop’s Stortford. His appointment was announced officially on Tuesday and the Wings will hope that his experience can help pull the team away from their precarious situation.

Title chasing Truro had a game on Tuesday when they beat fellow challengers Boreham Wood two-one to back up their four-one win at Chesham Town last Saturday. They come into the game in third place, just two points behind league leaders Dorking Wanderers.

It will be the return game between Welling and Truro this season as they met at Park View Road in November. The Wings got off to a good start and went one-nil up through Zain Walker. However, just past the hour mark, Jaze Kabia equalised. Six minutes later Tom Harrison put the Tinners ahead. Welling captain Dave Winfield committed two yellow card offences on Kabia either side of half time and the Wings to handicap them further and they were unable to find an equaliser.

At home, Truro have a strong record having won eleven, drawn five and lost three. Welling have visited the Cornish club five times, winning the first in 2013, drawing twice and losing twice. This will be the fourth different venue in which the White Tigers have hosted the Wings. The first three games were at their former ground at Treyew Road, the fourth was at Torquay United’s Plaimoor, and last season they kicked off the season at Plymouth Parkway’s Bolitho Park.

That game was not a good start for new manager Danny Bloor. Welling were three down after twenty-one minutes. Although Cameron Green pulled one back the hosts added two more to lead five-one at the break, The second half was quieter and Antony Papadopoulos scored from the spot with three minutes remaining as a consolation.         

Stringer will still be without injured Chiori Johnson but should have the rest of his squad available unless anyone has suffered a reaction from training during the week.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.