On Saturday, Welling United take a break from Vanarama National League South action with a home F.A. Trophy game against Chesterfield.

It has been a tough spell for the Wings having not won in the league since defeating Yeovil Town four-one at the end of November. Their one success in December was in the F.A. Trophy when they defeated Brackley Town on penalties.

Last Saturday, Welling crashed at home to Aveley. Although not out-played they were well beaten thanks to some pretty ordinary defending. They gifted the Millers two goals in the first fifteen minutes, and another in first half stoppage time. Although Kain Adom pulled one back from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, they couldn’t find the net again and they remain eight points adrift of the safety zone.

Their Trophy visitors, Chesterfield, are having an excellent season and are nine points clear in the National League despite having played fewer games than their chasers. Last Saturday they were within seconds of taking Watford back to their SMH Group Stadium for an F.A. Cup third round replay but the Hornets scored the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time after coming back from an early deficit.

Then, on Wednesday they hosted eighth placed Gateshead in the league and raced into a four goal lead by half time. Will Grigg completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot nine minutes after the break to complete the scoring.

In the third round of the Trophy, they crushed Southport six-one despite fielding a second string team. They conceded first, in the seventeenth minute, but were two-one up by half time. The Spireites scored four more goals in the second half to claim a comfortable win.

Although it is likely that they will bring a below strength side to Welling, with the league their top priority, they will still be keen to get to Wembley and will present Danny Bloor’s team with a huge challenge.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden