An odd number of teams in the National League South means that one team has a rest day in a full week of fixtures. This Saturday, it’s the turn of Welling United but they have been proactive.

With London Senior Cup opponents, Hanwell Town agreeing, they are playing their first round tie.

For Welling, this tournament isn’t as high on the priority list as the league, F.A. Cup or F.A. Trophy and Steve Lovell is likely to select a mixture of first team squad players. After last Saturday’s draw with Slough Town, Lovell admitted “There’s a few boys who haven’t played football for a while so I’ll be playing them, most probably, next Saturday. 

“There will be a few first team players out there as well, who played today, but the majority will be made up of players who need games and need us to have a look at them.

“There’s a couple of boys who we’ve signed in the last couple of weeks so they will play. There’s a couple carrying knocks from today so it gives them a bit of a chance to rest.”

Players needing a run out actually had one on Tuesday night in a last minute friendly with Cheshunt. Lovell selected an entirely different starting eleven although some of the team that played against Slough came on as second half substitutes. That game ended one all with Stefan Ilic scoring Welling’s goal from the penalty spot.

“The team could change from week to week.” said Lovell. “If I’ve got enough fit players to choose from, and they show me that they can do it, then I’ll be happy to put them in. We’ve got a decent squad now and we’re building on it and we’ll work with them.”

Although the London Senior Cup is not of the utmost importance to Lovell, they won the tournament two seasons ago and he will be looking to progress to extend Welling’s unbeaten run.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.