Having won their last two league and cup home games, Welling United will look to continue the run on Saturday when they host Chippenham Town in the Vanarama National League South.

Last season, the Wings faced the serious peril of relegation before Rod Stringer and Kevin Watson steered them to safety. Their success was based on an undefeated home record over the three month spell. This season, they started with two home wins before losing four of their next five league and cup matches at Park View Road. The two consecutive wins since then are a welcome return to form and Stringer will now want the ground to become a fortress again.

He will be happy that some of his walking wounded are returning and will be in contention for a recall. Mitchel Bergkamp and Zain Walker both scored against Maidstone United on Tuesday following their injuries, Javarn Pitterson returned in goal after a long time out, and Ben Wells got some playing minutes in his legs when coming on as a second half substitute.

One consideration that Stringer will have in mind is whether Pitterson will be fit and ready for a league return following his performance in the Kent Senior Cup. First team goalkeeper Rhys Lovett suffered a concussion injury in their two-one defeat at Dorking Wanderers last Saturday and looks set to miss at least the next three league games. 

It has been a similar mixed and inconsistent season for Chippenham who have one point fewer than the Wings, and are one place lower in the table. They defeated early league pace setters Hemel Hempstead Town three nil but were then defeated at Chesham United before losing at home to Hampton and Richmond Borough. Away from home, they have won two, drawn one and lost four.

Last season’s corresponding fixture between Welling and Chippenham at Park View Road ended goal-less before the Bluebirds won the return fixture four-one in March. When playing at home, Welling have won four, drawn two and lost one game between the two clubs.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.