Last Saturday, Welling United’s long unbeaten run ended but they still remain in third place coming into the crucial Easter programme.

However, the defeat, combined with Chelmsford City’s victory over Woking mean that there is one point between the two teams ahead of the Good Friday fixture at Park View Road.

Their game at Slough last weekend was a bit of a non event until the hosts scored. After that it was one way traffic but Welling were unable to score the goal needed to extend their ten match unbeaten run.

Despite that, results elsewhere mean that they have qualified for the play-offs. Torquay United have claimed the only automatic place by winning the Vanarama National League South so it’s all about the finishing places.

Clubs that finish second and third get a midweek break whilst those who claim fourth and fifth place host those who end up sixth and seventh in s one off game.

Although the stakes are heavily in favour of the team who finish as runners up, Dartford missed out on automatic promotion as a result of a very late Havant and Waterlooville goal last season then seventh placed Braintree Town won three away games to claim the other promotion spot.

Steve King’s Wings have only been beaten at home twice this season but Chelmsford will be keen to be the third Essex club to breach the fortress. Away from home they have won eight, drawn four and lost seven. Their last two have been three-one defeats, first at Torquay, then at St. Albans City.

When the two clubs met earlier in the season they contested a tight game that ended goal-less and, with so much at stake the reverse fixture is likely to be equally tense.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.