Although Welling United are finding the going tough in the Vanarama Conference South, they are enjoying cup football.

Last Saturday they outplayed league leaders Maidenhead United but threw away the three points through two bad defensive errors.

That leaves them hovering just above the relegation zone but they can forget that for a week and concentrate on the F.A. Cup.

On Saturday they host Whitehawk in the fourth and final qualifying round having recorded two good wins so far.

First they eased to a comfortable two-nil win at Whyteleafe with goals from Adam Coombes and Rickie Hayles. Then they hammered Swindon Supermarine 7-1, Coombes scored six with Pierre Joseph-Dubois also on the score sheet.

Their Brighton based opponents on Saturday have also eased with a victory away followed by a home win. They squeezed through 3-2 at East Thurrock United before seeing off Merthyr Tydfil 2-0 in the last round.

Former Eastleigh manager Richard Hill is in charge their now and he has wasted no time in recruiting some former Spitfires. Goalkeeper Ross Flitney has been the most recent joining Glen Southam and Ben Strevens.

Rather than training, Welling manager Mark Goldberg played a strong team at Erith Town on Wednesday night as a warm up. Adam Coombes scored the first four, Ali Fuseini scored his first Welling goal and Lyle Della-Verde added a brace as the Wings ran out 7-2 winners.

One downside was that injuries continue to dog the Wings caused Dan Walker to limp off in the first half.

Centre backs Sean Francis, Rickie Hayles and Dean Leacock were all absent at Erith so Welling played the make shift central defensive partnership of Danny Waldren and Mitchell Nelson. Mark Goldberg will be hoping that at least two of them are fit on Saturday.

Unfortunately, the game has probably come one week early for Joseph-Dubois. Goldberg confirmed “Pierre has been very unlucky with injuries. When he’s been playing for us he’s been magnificent. Realistically, he’s not going to be fit for the next game, but hopefully the game after.”

There is always a buzz for players when taking to the field in the world’s most famous club knock-out tournament.  Sam Hatton is looking forward to it. “Saturday’s going to be our toughest game in the F.A. Cup we’re going to go and attack them and hope to win.”

Image courtesy of Dave Budden