Following five away games in their last six matches, Welling United are back at Park View Road on Good Friday when entertaining Bath City.

When Welling last played at home they were well beaten by Oxford City but since then they have enjoyed back to back convincing victories. First they won 3-1 at Bognor Regis Town before going one better at Hungerford Town by winning 4-1.

As player-coach Jack Parkinson said after the Hungerford game, they now need to ‘tidy up’ their home form. Since the end of January they have enjoyed good home wins against fellow play-off hopefuls Braintree Town and St. Albans City. However, they have also suffered defeats against Gloucester City and Oxford City, both who are clubs from the wrong end of the table.

Friday’s visitors, Bath City, are play-off contenders and will be travelling to Welling knowing that they need to win or they will be in danger of losing touch. They visited Hemel Hempstead Town on Tuesday night and came away with a point in a one-all draw. The point took Hemel above Welling on goal difference and left Bath five points behind the Wings having played a game more.

Away from home, the Romans’ away record is almost as good as Welling’s. They have won eight, drawn five and lost five. They have only lost once away in 2018 however they have only won two of their other six games on the road.

In September, the two teams shared the points in a one-one draw at Twerton Park. Harry Phipps gave Welling the lead early on. At that stage Tom Bradbrook and Bradley Goldberg were leading the Bath defence a merry dance but both had to be replaced before half time.

Although Welling continued to create chances they failed to convert any and paid the price when Jamie Lucas levelled with just over twenty minutes remaining. After that the match went a bit flat and neither team created a clear cut chance to win the game.

Wings’ manager Jamie Coyle will be awaiting fitness news on Ben Jefford and Jack Parkinson who both missed last Saturday’s game at Hungerford. However, he won’t feel any pressure to rush them such were the performances of Archie Johnson and Coyle himself. Even if passed fit, they may well be named on the bench.

Last season’s corresponding game ended in a good win for Welling which was Jamie Day’s first game of his second spell as manager of the club. Adam Coombes put Welling ahead early on but Bath equalised through Frankie Artus two minutes after the break.

Artus then blotted his copy-book when fouling Christian Nanetti in the penalty area and Coombes converted from the spot. Harry Crawford made the points safe when finishing from Coombes’ pass.

Coombes is now back at Welling after a spell at Sutton United and has scored four goals in four games. Alongside him is Jamie Philpot who has scored four in his last two plus one substitute appearance and Goldberg, Welling’s joint leading goal-scorer. Should the three of them continue to fire, it should be an entertaining game.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.