On Saturday, Welling United travel to Carshalton Athletic for an Isthmian League Premier Division fixture.

It has been a very mixed last seven days for Lee Martin’s Wings. They enjoyed an excellent four-one victory at home to Canvey Island last Saturday but crashed when they hosted Ramsgate, also four-one. They will now have to show their character on the road where, arguably, they have performed better this season.

They were already one down on Tuesday when their job was made harder following the dismissal of Ruben Shakpoke who got involved in a melee on the touchline. That came about following a challenge on Greg Cundle by Ramsgate’s Tom Clifford that looked far worse than the one for which Scott Simmons was sent off at Slough. Martin was then shown two yellow cards for dissent and had to leave the dugout before play resumed.

Now with numbers in their favour, the Rams drove home their advantage with two more goals before half time. Even when Welling pulled one back with quarter of an hour remaining, there was controversy as Aiden Prall clattered into Cundle long after the Welling man had slotted it goalwards. That challenge, like Clifford’s was only deemed as a yellow card offence despite ending Cundle’s participation. In the remaining minutes, the Rams scored again to compound Welling’s misery.

While Welling were having a disappointing night. Carshalton were enjoying a come from behind victory at Burgess Hill Town. They were two-one down at half time and didn’t level until nine minutes were left on the clock when Ricky Korboa scored. Tolu Lapado’s second goal put them ahead three minutes later and Abdullateef Salami guaranteed the three points in stoppage time.

Winning that game took the Robins up to thirteenth in the league table with ten points from nine matches while Welling are six places behind on six points having played one game fewer.

Some of the Carshalton management and players may be recognised by Welling supporters as manager Peter Adeniyi, and players Sanchez Ming and Mason Saunders-Henry have all represented the Wings in the past. Femi Akinwande, Welling’s latest signing, will be returning to a former club

Martin will be without Simmons, still suspended, and will be monitoring the fitness of TQ Addy and Bright Siaw. After the rough treatment given to him on Tuesday, Cundle could be absent too. Unless there have been any further injuries in training, the rest of the squad should be ready and raring to go.

Image courtesy of Keith Gillard