On Saturday, the ‘magic of the cup’ returns to Park View Road as Welling United hosts Harrow Borough in the second qualifying round of the F.A. Cup.

Last Saturday, Welling’s assistant manager, Tristan Lewis, emphasised the importance of this tournament. “I went to watch Harrow play at Hendon.” he said.  “We’re saying to the lads that we want to be more professional. We want the regime to be more professional. 

“Things like that are massive. I remember a few years back we played Haringey Borough and no-one had been to watch them and they came here and rolled us over. If you make the same mistake twice it’s not a lesson learned.”

He continued “They’ll be a threat, They’ve got some good players and any F.A. Cup game is a challenge. It’s a ginormous game for the club. I think after what happened last year, probably even bigger, and the boys know that. 

“It would be great to have a massive turnout because we’re all desperate, not just to win a cup game, but to have a run for the club. We need it. The coffers need it, the fans need it, and I think anyone that’s been around a cup run, it does wonders for the players morale so it’s a huge game.”

As Welling have not had a league game for two weeks, they arranged a friendly with Cheshunt and then hosted Hanwell Town in the London Senior Cup. This allowed Steve Lovell and Lewis to give run-outs to nearly every member of the squad whilst continuing to work on their shape and experiment with players in different positions.

Coming into the F.A.Cup one round earlier, Harrow beat Ramsgate 4-2 at home after being 2-1 behind. James Ewington scored twice that day and he will need watching. He also scored a brace on Tuesday night in a 3-1 league win at Farnborough on Tuesday night taking his tally to five goals in six Southern Premier South division matches this season.

In March 2019, the two clubs met at Harrow in a London Senior Cup semi-final at Earlsmead and Welling won 3-1 courtesy of two Danny Mills goals and one from Zack Newton. Anthony O’Connor scored a late consolation goal for the hosts.

Two and a half years later, none of the Welling team are still at Park View Road, and only two or three Harrow players remain so that cannot be taken as a form guide. 

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.