August Bank Holiday Monday sees the first meeting between Welling United and Salisbury City following the promotion of both clubs from the Conference South to the Skrill premier last season.
Both teams won on Saturday. Welling recorded an excellent 4-2 win at Woking to move to 8th in the league whilst a goal by Theo Lewis against troubled Aldershot was enough to give Salisbury the win and their first points of the campaign.
Early last season, Salisbury had an eleven point advantage over the Wings but Welling came back to pip them by four points. As a result, they had to take their chances in the play-offs but for the second season in a row, the runners-up won promotion.
All clubs in the league will be tested by playing two games in three days and it is quite likely that some players will have to carry knocks. Welling’s new signing Harry Beautyman scored his first goal for the club but then went off injured so he maybe a doubt for this game.
Last season Welling won the corresponding fixture courtesy of a late Ross Lafayette goal in a game that was marked by the debut of Kurtis Guthrie.
It was not only Beautyman who netted his first Welling goal on Saturday. Doug Bergqvist also notched his first for the club with a towering header. Loick Pires scored Welling’s fourth in their 4-2 victory, his first since returning to the club, and will have enjoyed putting one over the club who released him at the end of last season.
The club will be hoping for the turnout they deserve as Jamie Day’s side continue to defy the odds with their exciting brand of football.