Successive Vanarama National League South victories under two different managers have given Welling United a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.

The six points claimed have given them hopes that they can pull away from the relegation zone but new manager Rod Stringer knows that the back to back wins will count for nothing if they can’t keep the momentum going.

On Saturday they entertain Taunton Town who have problems of their own. They are experiencing financial difficulties and have had to release some first team players. However, that doesn’t mean that they are no longer competitive. Last Saturday they twice came from behind to claim a point against Aveley and they are also aware of the importance of this match.

At present, Welling are in twenty-first place with twenty-seven points from twenty-nine games. Taunton are one place higher, outside the relegation zone, and four points ahead. They have played three games fewer than the Wings but haven’t won in the league since early December.

Away from home, the Peacocks have won just once this season, away to Tonbridge Angels in September. They have also drawn five and lost six on their travels.

This will be the two teams’ third meeting of the season. Back in August, Nick McCootie made the most of ponderous defending to give Taunton a tenth minute lead before goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe saved all that was thrown at him, including an Antony Papadopoulos penalty.

They then met at Park View Road in the F.A. Trophy in a game that went right to the wire. Kain Adom put Welling ahead two minutes before half time but a Ross Stearn penalty seven minutes after the restart restored parity. 

Tristan Abrahams thought that he had won it for the Wings when converting from the spot but Malachi Linton scored four minutes later to take it to penalties. With the score at seven apiece, Javarn Pitterson guessed correctly to save Austen Booth’s effort allowing Rob Howard to step up and convert to put Welling through.

Stringer’s first game in charge, the win against Hampton and Richmond Borough, came before he had even taken a training session. However, when they play Taunton, he will have had a chance to implement some of his own ideas and will select his side accordingly. 

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.