Looking to end their poor run, Welling United take a break from the Vanarama National League South when they host Havant and Waterlooville in the F.A. Trophy.
Defeat at home to Truro City last Saturday condemned the Wings to their fourth consecutive loss, albeit three of them against clubs in the top four of the division. Against Truro, they scored first before conceding twice in six minutes just after the half hour mark.
Last season, Havant were relegated from the National League South when they finished second to bottom. They are currently in ninth place in the Southern League Premier, South, however they are only two points away from the play-off zone. They will also want to return to winning ways after losing their last two matches. On Saturday, they were beaten five-one at league leaders Merthyr Town.
In the Trophy, the Hawks have already got through two rounds, both on the road, and both on penalties. They drew one apiece at Frome Town before winning the shoot out five-four, then another one all draw, this time at Bristol Manor Farm, was followed by a four-two penalties triumph.
After the Truro game, Welling manager Rod Stringer spoke of the Trophy match and said “Every time you have a defeat in any competition, the more defeats you start clocking up, the more difficult it becomes. The supporters start losing a bit of faith and I can understand that. We have to treat the game next week as the next game’s always your biggest game. We need to get a win from somewhere, we need to try and stay in the Trophy.
“We know that Havant will be a good side, they’re still full time so it’s a good draw because it’s at home, but it’s still a tough draw and we’ve got to go back to the training ground on Tuesday, and to keep trying to get something right. It is pressure now, and I feel the pressure along with (Assistant manager) Kev (Watson) because football’s about winning games, and in the last few results that have gone against us, I haven’t seen that ‘eye of a tiger’ enough. We have to brush ourselves down. We don’t roll, we don’t quit. We have to get back up on the horse.”
When the two teams met at Park View Road, early last season, the Wings won three-two. Alex MacAllister put the Wings ahead but Muhammadu Faal levelled five minutes before the break. Lewis White and David Kamara both scored to give Welling breathing space but they had to endure a nervous finish when Callum Kealy pulled one back six minutes before the end.
Image courtesy of Dave Budden