Vanarama National League South football returns to Park View Road on Good Friday when Welling United host Maidstone United.

Anything other than a victory for the Wings would see them relegated to the Isthmian League. Even a victory for them would prove fruitless should Salisbury win at Weymouth.

At the other end of the table, Maidstone need to win as they are at risk of missing out on a play-off place. On Tuesday evening, Weston-super-Mare won their game in hand at home to Tonbridge Angels to leap frog them into the final spot.

Last Saturday the Stones were held, surprisingly, to a nil-nil draw at home to already relegated Weymouth in a dull encounter, opening the door for the Somerset based club.

Meanwhile Welling put in a woeful performance at Hampton and Richmond Borough. They were two down in just five minutes and they conceded a third on the half hour mark. The hosts added two further goals in the second half to end their run of seven consecutive losses in which they scored just three times.

When Maidstone hosted Welling on New Year’s Day, the match resembled an attack versus defence exercise and the Stones were starting to get frustrated until Aaron Blair put them ahead with just over twenty minutes remaining. Once they had scored, they didn’t look in danger of giving up the three points as they cruised to victory.

Current form, as well as the league standings, favours Maidstone. Over the last ten matches, the Stones have won five, drawn three and lost two while Welling have just one win, three draws and six defeats to show for their efforts. However, whist the Wings have not won at the Gallagher Stadium for many years, they have two wins and a draw in their last three matches at Park View Road with last season’s encounter ending goal-less. 

Although Maidstone will start as big favourites, derbies don’t always go to form and an away victory cannot be guaranteed.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.