Following two trips to the West Country, Welling United return to Park View Road when they host St. Albans City in an important Vanarama National League South match.

Having defeated Weston-super-Mare four-one in Somerset, the Wings failed to back it up and crashed to a five-one defeat at Weymouth. Despite being the better team in the first half, they found themselves two down before James Alabi pulled one back for his first Welling goal. When they conceded again in the second half, they were unable to respond and Weymouth added a further two goals to claim their first home win of the season, and first victory under former Welling boss Warren Feeney.

Meanwhile, St Albans match at home to Hampton and Richmond Borough was postponed. Their last outing was on the previous Tuesday at home to Tonbridge Angels when they recorded their third consecutive one-all scoreline, and their fourth draw in a row. They went behind to a goal by Bailey Akehurst two minutes before half time but secured a point when Dominic Hutchinson scored with three minutes remaining.

Away from home, the Saints have won just once, but they have recorded seven draws along with their seven losses.

At present, the Wings occupy the last spot of safety, seven points clear of Enfield Town, who have played one game fewer. St Albans are one point further back but Welling have played two matches more than them. In the first meeting between the clubs this season in Hertfordshire in mid-October, Anointed Chukwu scored the only goal in the fifteenth minute to win the game for the Wings.

Both of last season’s meetings between the two teams were drawn with the game at the J. Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium being goal-less. That broke a run of three successive home losses by Welling against the Saints. The Wings haven’t beaten St. Albans when hosting a league match since February 2018.

Rod Stringer, the Welling manager, has been struggling to find sixteen fit players in recent weeks but he is hopeful of having Rhys Lovett back in goal. There is also the possibility that Harvey Walker may be able to make his debut after being out since pre-season, and that TJ Bramble and Sam Cornish may be available for selection if required. Another absentee from the team that travelled to Dorset is Sahid Kamara who has now had his loan extended.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden