On Easter Monday, Welling United host Dorking Wanderers in an important Vanarama National League South derby fixture.

Marc White’s team are second in the league table and will not give up the quest for the league championship until it’s not physically possible. They come into the game off the back of a solid three-nil win against Chippenham Town with all three goals claimed in the first half. They remain four points behind Maidstone United with five to play.

Warren Feeney’s Wings claimed an unlikely draw at Eastbourne Borough on Good Friday despite being three down at half time, and losing three-one with seven minutes left. After the game, Feeney said “It’s nice to get a point. My team talk at half time was one of the loudest I’ve ever done. As a player I responded to managers having a go at me. 

“Today, the first half wasn’t acceptable. We set up in a formation to frustrate them for the first ten to fifteen minutes because they’ve got a very good record here. We could see that they were hitting long balls but just look at the goals that we conceded. To me, they are totally unacceptable. There were a few home truths told to the players at half time but full credit to the boys to come back from three nil down and take a point. I’m pleased with the reaction but we’re not going to get carried away. It’s a point towards where we want to go.”

Two of Welling’s goals, including the equaliser, were scored by Dipo Akinyemi. Feeney said “Since I’ve come in, Dipo’s been top class. I think it’s eighteen goals he’s scored now this season. He’s got a great attitude and I’ve told him to play for us, but play for yourself. I’m sure he’ll want to go and better himself. No matter what happens, if I’m here I’d love to keep him but it’s not just him. Barnsey (Aaron Barnes)’s come into the squad and his attitude has been top class but I’ve said to all of them that the standard of the second half is the standard that I want until the end of the season. It makes Monday a good game now for us to have a good game against a very good side.”

Despite, their difficult last five games, Feeney remains positive and he continued “If we play like that on the front foot, hopefully, we’ll be alright. I think it’s just pushing them. A few have said in the last couple of games that they feel tired or cramp. For me, that’s a weakness. I wasn’t brought up in that environment. If you’re fit, you’re mentally fit and that’s what I’m trying to bring in to these players.”

At full time, his talk was different “I said to them I shouldn’t have to come in and do what I had to do at half time but full credit to you, you reacted and got a point.” He revealed. “You come to places like this with a point, worst scenario you finish with a point but don’t get carried away. The big psychological one is to get off the foot of the table but we’ve still a long way to go.”

He remained positive believing his team could get something out of the game even when the minutes were ticking down. “When one of the players was injured I said to the boys if we can get another goal we have a chance of doing something here.” He said “No matter what level you’re playing at it’s very hard when you’re getting bombarded with balls. I want to play football the right way but we’re ‘needs must’ at the minute and we’ve got big boys up there who are a handful so you’ve always got a chance.”

Dorking will be a tough challenge on Easter Monday but Feeney remains undaunted. “I prefer the tougher games because players have got to work harder and it’s free hits for us. Players will raise their game for the harder teams, no disrespect. We’ve got to carry on where we left off today and try and take the game to them.”

He will have to assess injuries but he wasn’t too concerned “There’s a few knocks today and the boys have got to and recover right, which I’m sure they’ll do. They’re footballers. They’ll dust themselves down and they’ll go again.”

Should Welling show the spirit and never-say-die attitude from Good Friday, they could surprise Dorking at Park View Road on Easter Monday and it’s all set up for an intriguing battle.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.