On Saturday Welling United entertain East Thurrock United at Park View Road looking to build on their five game unbeaten league run.
However, John Coventry’s side will have their own ideas. He built a new squad in the summer and they took a while to gel but they have picked up recently and are probably in a false league position. Also, last season’s league golden boot winner, Sam Higgins, missed the first five games but is now back in the starting line-up.
Higgins will need no introduction as far as Welling supporters are concerned as he has scored regularly against them over the years. Two of those goals were scored in the corresponding fixture last season.
Former Wing Reece Harris scored the only goal of the first half but Welling’s hopes of getting back into the game became that much tougher when Connor Dymond was dismissed for a second yellow card offence. Higgins took the free kick but it flew back off the bar.
That proved to be a short lived let off as Higgins finished well in the 71st and 81st minute for a comfortable East Thurrock victory.
There is good news and bad news for Welling as far as injuries are concerned. Yannis Ambroisine and John Paul Kissock have returned and Craig Braham-Barrett has returned from international duty. On the debit side Anthony Acheampong and Charles Banya are out with Jordan Gibbons and Richard Orlu questionable.
To cover the shortage, Welling manager Steve King has added full back James Hurst, wing back Tigana Quebe and striker Dean McDonald to the squad to give him additional options. They were all on duty for Welling’s hard earned draw at Chelmsford last Saturday, and again in their Tuesday night Kent Senior Cup defeat against Gillingham.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.