On Tuesday evening, Welling United entertain Tonbridge Angels in the Vanarama National League South.

Both teams come into the game off the back of victories on Saturday. The Angels won two-nil against Hemel Hempstead Town. Although, they dominated the second half, they had to wait until three minutes from time before they sealed their victory when Sean Shields scored his second. His first came eight minutes after the break.

Meanwhile, the Wings bounced back from five consecutive defeats with an excellent win at Slough Town’s Arbour Park fortress. Josh Redfearn, making his full debut, put Welling ahead in the nineteenth minute and Gene Kennedy scored their second just past the half hour mark. Six minutes after the half time break, Chiori Johnson made it three-nil. Although Slavi Spasov and Sam Evans pulled two back, Welling defended well to claim the three points.

After the weekend’s activity, Jay Saunders’ Angels were in thirteenth place from only fifteen matches. Their home form has been very good but their away record is a little less impressive. They have won just once (at Farnborough), drawn four, and lost three.

As far as Welling’s home form is concerned, they have been something of an ‘all or nothing’ club. They have won four and lost five with no draws. They have played eighteen league games overall, and their win at Slough moved them up to eighteenth in the table, seven points clear of the drop zone.

When Welling hosted Tonbridge last season, it was a good example of what’s sometimes known as a game of two halves with all four goals scored by loanees. Nathan Odokonyero scored a first half brace to put the Angels well in control. However, midway through the second half, Jason Adigun volleyed Welling back into the game and Sonny Fish levelled in stoppage time against the team he had represented earlier in the season.

Adigun and Crossley Lema were both in the Welling team in that match, but are now at Tonbridge and will be expected to line-up against the Wings. They may be joined by Charlie Pegrum who is now on loan at the Angels from Leyton Orient, having been at Welling until a few weeks ago.

In the last thirteen league and cup games between the two sides, only three have been decided by more than one goal and this could be another tight encounter.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden