On Saturday, Welling United host Ebbsfleet United in an important Vanarama National League South derby fixture.

Both teams will be going flat out to claim the three points for very different reasons. Hosts, Welling, find themselves at the foot of the table and in real danger of their first ever relegation from their current level. Dennis Kutrieb’s Fleet have only won once in the last four games and will want to cement their place in the play-off positions.

New Welling manager, Warren Feeney, has made multiple changes to his squad bringing in more experience. Last Saturday, at Tonbridge Angels, former Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace full back Zeki Fryers and Harvey Bradbury, who includes Portsmouth, Watford and Millwall amongst his previous clubs, made their debuts. However, it was to no avail as the Angels claimed the three points.

There was disappointment for Ebbsfleet as well when they went down two-one at home to Hungerford Town. Ryan Seager put the visitors ahead in the twenty-first minute but Elliott Romain levelled five minutes later. Seager scored the winner from the penalty spot midway through the second half. 

When the two teams met earlier in the season, it was a very one-sided affair with the Fleet five-nil up by half time. Craig Tanner put the Fleet ahead in under a minute and Rakish Bingham made it two shortly after. Bingham added another before Tanner also netted again. Alfie Egan scored the fifth four minutes before half time.

The second half was much quieter and the only goal was scored by former Wing Romain with one minute plus stoppage time to play. 

Whilst the core of the Fleet side will be the same, the Welling team will be very different and it promises to be another tense afternoon.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.