Another outstanding Welling evening performance saw them break the much vaunted 50 point mark ready for the visit of AFC Halifax in another Skrill Premier encounter on Saturday.

Despite falling behind early on at Lincoln, the Wings were the better team and deserving of their victory. Josh Wakefield and Harry Beautyman scored the goals but it was an outstanding team performance, a mixture of hard work and good football, that brought back the points. They should now go into the game on Saturday brimming with confidence.

Welling will need to make at least one change, however. Jake Gallagher picked up his tenth caution of the season and Saturday’s match will mark the first of his two game ban. Joe Healy was replaced at half time, but it is to be hoped that it was no more than a precaution and that he will be back in contention against the Shaymen.

Lee Butcher missed his second game in three at Lincoln, but Jamie Turner followed up his clean sheet against Macclesfield Town with another fine showing at Lincoln, including a crucial save in the final minute as the Imps looked to grab an unlikely point.

On the credit side, Lee Clarke played the second 45 minutes and appeared to come through unscathed, whilst Basile Karagiannis’ international clearance is now through and he came on as a late substitute for his Wings debut. Kiernan Hughes-Mason has now returned from his loan spell at Hayes and Yeading United to give Jamie Day further options.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, Halifax stunned Welling in a 30 minute first half spell in which Lee Gregory helped himself to a hat-trick. That game was the only time that Welling have been defeated by three goals thus far this season. Halifax are currently seventh in the league but are only two points above the Wings in twelfth having played a game more.

Away from home, the Shayman have only been successful at Dartford and Hyde. They have picked up five draws, on the road, and suffered eleven defeats.

Wings’ supporters will notice a difference to the ground with extra barriers on the terraces, the next stage of the improvements required to ensure the Park View Road stadium meets the requirements for Conference Premier football next season.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.