When the F.A. Trophy draw for the last sixteen was made, being drawn at home to the number one seed may not have been the ideal result.

However, if Tristan Lewis and Harry Wheeler want a challenge, they certainly have one.

Visitors Lincoln City are leading the Vanarama National League by four points having played a game fewer than second placed Forest Green Rovers. They also await a fifth round F.A. Cup fifth round tie with Premier League Burnley.

An advantage of playing against them is that Lewis and Wheeler will have had plenty of chances to see them on television. As well BT Vanarama National League coverage, F.A. Cup successes against Ipswich Town and Brighton and Hove Albion have also been shown on national TV.

They have only lost twice since September in any competition but the forthcoming match is no foregone conclusion. Welling have won their last six home games and have only lost two in their last eleven league and cup games.

On top of that, Welling have been something of a bogey team over Lincoln. In six games over the three seasons they spent in the national league, they recorded five wins and a draw over the Imps.

Last season, Ofami Afolabi scored the only goal of the game after the Imps had been reduced to ten men late on.

Then, in the return match, Reece Harris put Welling ahead at Sincil Bank on the stroke of half time after claiming a through ball from Reece Harris. Jack Muldoon equalised with fifteen minutes remaining from 25 yards to record their first point against the Wings in six games.

Lewis and Wheeler will be hoping that centre half Sean Francis and left back Jordan Brown are fit to return after both missed Welling’s 3-2 defeat at St. Albans City on Tuesday evening..

One player who definitely won’t be featuring for Lincoln is Theo Robinson who signed for Southend United on transfer deadline day, but they have strength in depth so will have plenty of others vying for the spare place.

Image courtesy of Dave Budden