Vanarama National League South football returns to Park View Road for the last time on Saturday when Welling United host Salisbury.

Three crushing defeats in a row have confirmed Welling’s relegation and their next league match, following Saturday’s encounter, will be in August in the unknown territory of the Isthmian League. One point out of the last fifteen has resulted in them being demoted from step two for the first time in their history.

On Good Friday they lost four-nil at home to Maidstone United, then on Easter Monday, they were trounced five-one at Chelmsford City.

It is very different for Salisbury. They are only outside the relegation zone due to having a goal difference that is one goal better than St. Albans City. Therefore they need to equal or better the Saints result. However, the Wiltshire club will be favourites as St. Albans are visiting league leaders Truro City who need to win, and maintain their own goal difference advantage over Torquay United, to claim the league title.

Over the Easter period, Salisbury drew two-all at relegated Weymouth before losing one-nil at home to promotion hopefuls Eastbourne Borough.

When Salisbury hosted Welling before Christmas, the hosts claimed the points in a three-one victory. Noah Copping scored the only goal of the first half in controversial circumstances as there appeared to be an offside in the build up. Welling then bossed the first twenty-five minutes of the second half but couldn’t find an equaliser and paid the price when Jordan Ragguette added a second.

Gene Kennedy pulled one back from the penalty spot when Theo Alexandrou was brought down however, Salisbury then had a penalty of their own and Copping converted.

Injuries haven’t helped the Wings, and Brian Statham may be down to the bare bones for their finale. Chiori Johnson, Deon Moore, Maxwell Statham, Harvey Walker, Zain Walker and Dave Winfield all missed the Chelmsford match through injury, and Garrett Kelly continues to be absent.

They were joined by two more, Tyrese Briscoe and Jack Burchell, who failed to get through the first half. As a result, Brian Statham’s team may pick itself for his last game before he hands over to a new manager and he takes on the Director of Football role for the 2025/26 campaign.