Incredibly, Welling United play their first Saturday home game for over a month this weekend when they host Boreham Wood in the Vanarama National League South.

Financially, the period has been tough on the Wings after playing just three games in December. On the pitch, Saturday’s match will be the fifth of seven in a gruelling January so far, and it will be the third encounter of five since the turn of the year against, arguably, the best three teams in the division.

On Tuesday evening, Welling started well and were deserving of more than a two-one lead against Hampton and Richmond Borough, courtesy of goals by Josh Redfearn and Gene Kennedy. However, after the break and playing up the slope, they looked fatigued and conceded two preventable goals.

Meanwhile, Boreham Wood have been in tremendous form and haven’t lost in any competition since early November. They will be well rested having not played for two weeks since winning two-one at Weymouth in the F.A. Trophy. In that game, Matt Rush put them ahead just after the hour mark and Jon Harrison-Benton added a second with six minutes remaining. Although Weymouth pulled one back in stoppage time, it was too little too late.

In the league, they are in fourth place however, should they win their games in hand, they would go top.

Away from home, the Wood have won five, drawn three and lost three. Their defeats have been at Salisbury, Eastbourne Borough and Aveley, the latter being their last loss. Striker Kwesi Appiah is on particularly good form having scored thirteen in their last nine games, and over twenty goals so far this season.

When Welling visited them back in September, the Wings took a trouncing. Jack Payne, Erico Sousa from the spot, and Junior Dixon scored in the first half. Charlie Pegrum was sent off in the second period but Welling didn’t concede again until the hosts scored another three in the last eight minutes through Gus Mafuta, Appiah, and Abdul Abdulmalik.

There has been no league game at Welling between the two clubs since April 2016 when the Wings were beaten three-nil on their way to relegation from the National League. 

Injuries mean that Welling manager Rod Stringer will have to select his formation based on availability, and ability to adapt to the positions in which the players are asked to fill. Although not ideal, he will still expect a positive result. 

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.