Having claimed their first home victory of 2015 on Saturday Welling United entertain Wrexham just three days later.
They will hope that they can copy what regularly happens at the bus stop outside the ground whereby you wait a long time for one, then two come along together.
Visitors Wrexham will have other ideas, however. Since their disappointing defeat at Wembley in the F.A. Trophy final, which cost Kevin Wilkin his job as manager, the Red Dragons have gone four games undefeated. Despite having no promotion hopes or relegation fears, they put a massive dent in Grimsby Town’s Championship winning hopes by claiming a very impressive one-nil victory at Blundell Park.
After a slow start, Welling were rarely troubled once they went ahead. Kieron St. Aimie was the architect when, having made space for himself, he chipped in a cross that invited Jake Gallagher to head home and the Wings captain made no mistake.
St. Aimie then claimed the second although video evidence suggested that it may have gone in off Kidderminster defender Jamie Grimes. Sam Corne notched his first goal as Welling saw the game out comfortably.
Manager Loui Fazakerley was delighted although concerned about the slow start and warned the players that they could not afford to start the Wrexham game as they did on Saturday. “If we play like we played from fifteen minutes onwards, we’re confident we’ve got a good chance of winning the game.”
They will have to make do without Joe Healy again as he completes his ban and after the Kidderminster game, Jamal Fyfield confirmed that his injury means he does not expect to feature again this season. Tashan Adeyinka had better news, however, by suggesting that there is a good chance that the knock he picked up in training will have cleared by Tuesday. If not, he should be fully fit for the crunch game at Alfreton on Saturday.
When Wrexham entertained Welling United in North Wales earlier in the season, the Wings lost out in controversial circumstances. Harry Beautyman’s first half goal put the visitors ahead and they rarely looked in trouble until Jon Nouble was dismissed for a second yellow card, both of which appeared extremely harsh.
Wilkin made an immediate change by taking off a centre back and bringing on a striker. Jamie Day looked to hold on to what his team had and replaced his other striker with a midfield player leaving them with little outlet up front.
All still looked good as Wrexham failed to create much until the game was turned on its head by goals from Louis Moult and Joe Clarke in the 84th and 86th minutes.
Last season the two teams shared the spoils at Park View Road. Kurtis Guthrie headed Welling in front just shy of the half hour, but Jonathan Hunt claimed a spectacular equaliser nine minutes later. Neither side could find the elusive winner in the second half.
Some of Welling’s most memorable games have been evening fixtures and Fazakerley will be keen that the Wings faithful can create the atmosphere that will propel the team to victory.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.