Following the late postponement of their New Years Day match with Dartford, Welling United are hoping the weather will be kinder for their home game with Braintree Town.

The two clubs have already met twice this season, both times at Braintree’s Amlin Stadium.

Before this season, Welling had visited Braintree’s home six times, losing five and drawing once. It looked like the game was following the usual pattern when the Iron went ahead through Charlie Strutton but Welling player-manager Jamie Day equalised just four minutes later.

Lee Clarke put Welling ahead from a Kurtis Guthrie cross, dummied cleverly by Joe Healy, in the 72nd minute. Guthrie was again the provider when Alex Dyer added a third, ten minutes later.

Jordan Cox pulled one back with a minute remaining but Welling held out for a well deserved victory.

When the two teams met again in the F.A. Trophy, it was an entirely different story. Welling had an F.A. Cup game at Plymouth Argyle the following week, and a midweek Skrill Premier match at Grimsby Town ahead of them, so Day took the decision to rest several key players and to give full first team debuts to four fringe players.

Dan Holman put the Iron ahead in the first half before second half goals by Dan Sparkes and Cox ensured it was the hosts who advanced.

Blaine Hudson will sit the match out with suspension but Day will hope that Lee Clarke is fit to return, having sat out the Wings’ defeat at Aldershot Town.

Like Welling, Braintree’s New Year’s Day game with Cambridge United was postponed so neither team has enjoyed additional rest. There are four points between the two teams with the Iron in tenth place on 38 points while Welling have 34 and are 13th.

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