After a trip to Twerton, Bath, Welling United are back to home comforts when they host Farnborough in the Vanarama National League South on Saturday.

Having won at home to Aveley one week earlier, they were defeated one-nil at Bath City in a match that had a number of controversial moments. One of them resulted in Jack Burchell receiving an extremely harsh second yellow card for which he has been punished with a one match ban.

Their opposition on Saturday, Farnborough, have had no such problems and lead the early season table with three wins out of three. They started the season with a two-one victory at Chippenham Town, and followed up with a one-nil win at home to Torquay United. On Tuesday, they continued their run with a two-nil success when Eastbourne Borough visited them. Veteran wide man, Ricky Holmes, has started the campaign in good form, scoring their first three goals.

Rod Stringer’s Wings are already a match behind nearly every other club in the league as their Tuesday night game at Worthing was put back for a couple of months following the approved request by the Rebels to not play any home games in August while ground improvements are being completed.

In the corresponding game at Park View Road between Welling and Farnborough last October, the spoils were shared in a game that ended in drama. Dominic Odusanya put the Wings ahead shortly before the half hour mark however, Olly Pendlebury restored parity in first half stoppage time.

When TJ Bramble put the Wings back ahead with three minutes remaining, they looked to have secured the three points but Dan Gifford levelled in time added on.

Bramble is the only Welling player still at Park View Road from the sixteen man squad on duty that day. Burchell’s absence, serving his suspension, will probably be covered by a full debut for Jacob Mensah who has made two substitute appearances so far this term. Stringer may also choose to make tactical changes after analysing the defeat at Bath.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden