Vanarama National League South football returns to Park View Road on Saturday when Welling United host league leaders Hornchurch.

On Wednesday evening, the Wings took a break from league action and met Ebbsfleet United in the Kent Senior Cup Final at Gillingham’s Priestfield stadium.

Manager Brian Statham took the opportunity to look at a different formation and gave some minutes to players who hadn’t played much recently. Josh Redfearn scored the only goal to give the Wings some silverware, and Statham some food for thought.

Last Saturday the Wings put in a poor performance at Chesham United to leave them at serious risk of relegation. After a goal-less first half, Welling went behind early in the second half however, Riccardo Di Trolio equalised four minutes later.

They then went back behind and the task became that much harder when Gene Kennedy was dismissed. Two further goals in stoppage time gave the score-line a harsh look, but the Wings didn’t create enough to deserve anything out of the game.

Saturday’s visitors, Hornchurch fell to defeat at home to play-off hopefuls Weston-super-Mare. Former Ebbsfleet, Bromley and Dartford wide midfielder Luke Coulson put the Seagulls ahead in the sixth minute and they were two up by half time. 

Darren McQueen pulled one back for the Urchins eight minutes after the restart but Coulson scored again on the hour mark. Angelo Balanta scored for Hornchurch two minutes before time and they threw players forward in stoppage time.

In the last minute of time added on goalkeeper Mason Terry went up for a corner. When it dropped to Coulson inside his own penalty area, he hoisted it forward and it bounced into the empty net to complete his hat-trick.

When Welling and Hornchurch met for the first time this season, back in August, the match was something of a non-event and neither team managed a goal.

Away from home, Hornchurch have won five, drawn seven and lost eight. Like Welling, they have only won once in their last six games, and like the Wings, their victory was at home to league leaders Worthing. However, unlike Statham’s team, the Urchins are safe in twelfth place. 

It will be Hornchurch’s first visit to Park View Road since New Year’s Day 2013. On that day the Wings enjoyed a comfortable four-nil win. Anthony Acheampong scored a brace either side of a Jake Gallagher strike in the first half. Lee Clarke scored the fourth in the second period. 

Statham will be without Kennedy, suspended, against Hornchurch, while injuries to Chiori Johnson, Dan Martin and Dave Winfield mean that they are questionable. Zain Walker took a knock against Ebbsfleet and his fitness will also have to be monitored.

However, several Welling players put in a good case for a start with their performances in the Kent Senior Cup final so Statham will have decisions to make when selecting his side.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.