After just one game, two teams with ambitions meet for their first Kent derby of the season.

Welling United and Maidstone United have both gone through a rebuild over the summer as they look to recover from very different disappointments at the end of last season.

Having missed out in the play-off final, Welling will be looking for another assault on a top seven place whilst Maidstone were relegated and will be looking to bounce back at the first attempt.

Both manager’s, Mark Goldberg of the Wings, and the Stones’ Hakan Hayrettin, know what a challenge lies ahead over the next eight months. This promises to be a very competitive season with a high percentage of the clubs having realistic chances of playing post season football. If either manager was in any doubt, they won’t be after Saturday’s games.

Goldberg’s team visited the club that many are tipping for the title over the weekend and they fought hard for a well earned point at Havant and Waterlooville. They could hardly have got off to a worse start when Roarie Deacon put the Hawks ahead after eleven minutes.

However, Adam Coombes marked his fourth Welling debut with an equaliser five minutes before the break after good work from strike partner Bradley Goldberg. In the second half, Havant pinned Welling back for a while but the Wings finished strongly and could have come away with all three points as they put Havant under pressure at the end.

Newly promoted Weymouth stunned the Stones with a late strike at the Gallagher Stadium. Only Justin Amaluzor remains from the team that came bottom of the Vanarama National League last season but it was the midfielder who opened the scoring ten minutes after the break.

Hayrettin’s team appeared to be in control at that point but they created little and paid the price when Ben Thomson levelled with fifteen minutes remaining. After that, only the visitors looked likely to win and they claimed the three points when Thomson headed home from a corner with a minute remaining.

Both teams will be keen to get their first win under their belts so it promises to be an exciting encounter.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.