Lee Martin’s new look Welling United team travel to Cheshunt on Saturday for their first league match under his stewardship.

It will also be the Wings’ first ever match in the Isthmian League following their relegation from the National League South last season. Although they would hope to bounce back as quickly as possible, Martin has had to build a new squad from scratch with only Cameron Andrews remaining from last term. Therefore, some patience will be necessary while the new players gel in the rebuild.

Pre-season has given him the opportunity to start the bonding whilst looking at trialists and trying out different shapes, and it is very likely that there will be further adjustments to the squad in the coming weeks.

Scouting opponents is difficult at this time of the season. Cheshunt have made a number of changes to their squad as Mel Gwinnett’s team look to improve on their fifteenth place finish last season. However, it’s the same for both sides as they won’t know exactly how Welling will line up.

Having spent a season in the National League South in the 2022-23 season, the two teams have met before in recent times. Cheshunt hosted Warren Feeney’s Wings on an icy February midweek evening. Ade Azeez put the Wings ahead five minutes into the second half and it appeared that they were going to complete the double until former Wing Emmanuel Maja was brought down in the penalty area in stoppage time and Reece Beckles-Richards converted.

Stefan Payne was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed but there was insufficient time for the Ambers to make their one man advantage count and the two teams were forced to settle for a point apiece.

Weather conditions will be different this time around and there will probably be a healthy Welling contingent keen to see their new look team.