Following two high scoring cup games, Welling United return to Vanarama National League South action, hosting Maidenhead United.

Reward for their 7-1 victory in the F.A. Cup last Saturday is another home tie, this time against Whitehawk..

At Chatham Town on Monday, they won 6-1 in the Kent Reliant Senior Trophy. Their next opponents in that tournament will be at home to current holders Dartford.

While they are flying up front, they have only kept two clean sheets in all competitions all season so Matt Fish, released by Ebbsfleet United this week, has been signed.

They may find Saturday’s game a little more onerous than the cup ties against lower league sides as the Magpies have started the season in great form and are top of the table. They have lost just one league game all season, and have the stingiest defence having conceded just five goals in their twelve games.

Their defeat, one nil at Poole Town, was in just their second game of the season however they are not infallible as was shown by their F.A, Cup defeat at Ryman League Staines Town.

In their other league away games they have won 2-1 at Whitehawk, 1-0 at Concord Rangers, 2-1 at Eastbourne Borough and 3-1 at Oxford City. Their only other dropped points away were in a goalless draw at Dartford.

Wings’ manager Mark Goldberg is relishing the challenge ahead. “It’s a great opportunity to really be a barometer of where we really are because in the first ten games we’ve had a lot of changes, a lot of additions, comings and goings because we’re starting from scratch. 22 new players. It just doesn’t happen straight away, it’s building blocks.

“You’ve seen what we’re trying to do off the pitch. Hopefully you’re seeing signs of what we’re trying to do on the pitch.”

His in form striker, Adam Coombes, presents further challenges following his double hat-trick versus Swindon Supermarine. Goldberg admitted “Now, we’ve got to be worried that other clubs will come in for him. Obviously, we want the best for him, but right now we can’t afford to let him go.”

Whether holding on to him will be that easy remains to be seen but Dan Walker will be pushing to replace him if his place does become vacant. His confidence will be high following a hat-trick of his own at Chatham.

George Allen looks like he is finally ready to start his season but Goldberg said that he will be going out on loan to get games under his belt for match fitness. Jamie Slabber and probably one more are due out to release budget for Fish and other recent signing Christian Nanetti.

Strikers Harry Crawford and Luke Saggers are still injured but unless those who took knocks on Saturday and Monday don’t recover, everyone else should be available for selection.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.