Welling United resume their F.A. Cup campaign this Saturday with a trip to Woking.

It’s a big game for both clubs as the victors will claim a place in the first round and a potential tie with a football league club.

There is a little extra spice added by the fact that Welling leap-frogged the Cards on Saturday to move into second place in the Vanarama National League South with Woking dropping down to third place.

To get this far Welling have had to come from behind to beat Chesham United 2-1 with goals from Jack Jebb and Gavin McCallum before heading to Hereford where they recorded an impressive 2-0 victory. Goalscorers at Edgar Street were Thierry Audel and Brendan Kiernan.

For Woking, it’s a third consecutive home draw. They started their run with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tooting and Mitcham. However Kempston Rovers gave them a bit of a scare. Three goals in six minutes leading up to half time suggested that they were in for another easy afternoon but Kempston pulled two back to make for a tense last fifteen minutes.

Last Saturday Welling claimed all three points against Slough Town despite making it hard for themselves. Adam Coombes headed them ahead in the second minute and they then missed a host of chances in a first half that they dominated.

Having failed to finish the game off they paid the price when conceding one minute into the second half. The second half was much more even until Jordan Gibbons was tumbled in the penalty area with eight minutes remaining. Coombes stepped up and buried the penalty for the three points.

Meanwhile Woking had to come back from a 1-0 deficit at half time in their home game with Chelmsford City and were forced to settle for a point.

Injuries have not helped Welling in their campaign this season and they have been hit by a new blow with Jack Jebb’s injury at Slough ruling him out for the rest of the season. He has four goals and ten assists to his name this season so it’s a massive disappointment to both player and club.

Coombes will also be unavailable as he is cup-tied and Steve King won’t be able to replace him with new signing Matt Paterson as he is also ineligible having already represented Oxford City. However, last week’s absentees James Hurst and John Paul Kissock should be available again as should McCallum following his hamstring strain.

King’s Wings have gone ten league and cup games undefeated whilst Woking’s two cup wins against lower league opposition are their only victories in their last six games. The Welling manager will take nothing for granted though and knows that league form is irrelevant in games like this. He does have a superb record in the F.A, Cup and will be well prepared for the task ahead.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.