Having not played a competitive match at Park View Road since 16th February, the Wings are finally back on Saturday when they entertain Hungerford Town.
As there is an odd number of clubs in the National League South, it means that at least one club has to miss out on a game every week and last weekend Hungerford were the unfortunate side so, for them, it’s a season curtain raiser.
Last Saturday, Welling visited Havant and Waterlooville to kick off their season but they fell to a three-nil defeat. They conceded early and had to withstand some pressure but were starting to grow into the game only to let in a second in first half injury time.
After that, it never looked as if the Havant defence would be breached and they added a third in injury time in the second half.
When last season came to an abrupt end, Hungerford were sitting in seventh place and enjoying upsetting the odds despite six of their last seven league games being away from home. Their last game was on 9th February, losing 4-0 at Oxford City.
There was no game between the two clubs last season and the last time they met at Park View Road, was in January 2020. Only Dipo Akinyemi remains a Welling player from that match, which was Brad Quinton’s first home game as Welling manager.
Anthony Cook put the Wings ahead in the eighth minute but eleven minutes later, Liam Ferdinand levelled. Cameron James restored Welling’s lead and they went in at the break with the advantage.
Having missed chances to put the game to bed, it looked like Welling were going to pay for it when Matt Jones equalised with under fifteen minutes remaining but the hosts were not to be denied and Diaz Wright scored the winner six minutes from time.
Image courtesy of Dave Budden