Floodlight football returns to Park View Road on Tuesday evening when Welling United host Hemel Hempstead Town in the Vanarama National League South.

On Saturday, new look Welling defeated Weston-super-Mare four-one in Somerset. It looked as if it was going to be a long afternoon when the hosts went ahead in the second minute. However, the Wings held firm before starting to make chances of their own. In the eighteenth minute, Dave Winfield headed his long awaited first goal for the club and they didn’t look back.

Ten minutes after levelling, the Wings went ahead when Finn Ballard-McBride marked his debut with a headed goal and Welling went in at the break ahead. Eleven minutes into the second half two other debutants combined to increase Welling’s lead when Jayden Davis met Daniel Quick’s deep cross with a header that went inside the far post. Zain Walker wrapped it up five minutes from time with a composed finish from fifteen yards.

Meanwhile, Hemel Hempstead were completing an impressive three-nil victory over Truro City. Brandon Barzey’s first half brace put the Tudors’ in command and Joe White put the icing on the cake with one minute remaining.

When the two teams met for the first time this season, back in September, the Tudors were top of the National League South, and brimming with confidence. Alfie Cerulli put them ahead in the eighth minute and they held the lead until nine minutes after the break when Anointed Chukwu levelled.

Eleven minutes later. Ricardo German put the hosts back ahead, and he added his second after a further five minutes. Connor Kurran-Brown added a fourth seven minutes from time before Gene Kennedy scored a consolation goal.

After their good start to the season when they went eleven league games unbeaten, they failed to win a match in October or November. They only played twice in December with one win and one loss but have now found form again, having won their last three matches. Their away form is ‘all or nothing’ as they have won five and lost nine with no draws.  

In last season’s corresponding game between Welling and Hemel at the J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium, the visitors claimed all three points courtesy of a George Williams penalty twelve minutes from time.

At present, the Wings are ten points clear of the relegation zone with Hemel four points further clear, with two games fewer played, so Rod Stringer will be under no illusion on how hard his team will need to work to back up their excellent result on Saturday. 

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.