Welling United hope to be back in action on Boxing Day when they visit Dulwich Hamlet in the Vanarama National League South.
After yet another blank Saturday, their hopes of playing on Tuesday were dashed when a positive Covid-19 test caused Havant and Waterlooville to call off their visit to Park View Road.
The Wings’ season has been a real stop start campaign and they go into the Boxing Day game having only played eleven league and cup matches. In the league they have played just three times at home in their nine completed fixtures and they are away again on Boxing Day.
Just one victory in their eleven games has driven manager, Brad Quinton to make some squad changes. Coming in on loan are Joe Taylor, a prolific striker from Cray Wanderers, and Millwall’s highly rated centre-back Rob Strachan. Departures from the club are captain Anthony Cook, centre back Lexus Beeden and striker Rowan Liburd.
Hosts Dulwich Hamlet are in mid-table with six more points than the Wings but have played two games more. Like Welling they have only played more away games (seven) to matches at home (four). Their record in Dulwich is won one, drawn one and lost two, their one victory coming when they had a crowd of over one thousand.
Last Saturday, their F.A. Trophy hopes were brought to a halt when defeated at home by Hornchurch. Sanchez Ming put the Hamlet ahead from the spot but Sam Higgins levelled, also with a penalty. The game appeared to be heading towards penalties until Charlie Ruff scored the winner with four minutes remaining.
Ming wasn’t the only former Wing in the Dulwich team in that game. They also had Quade Taylor and Danny Mills in the starting line-up with Korrey Henry coming on from the bench.
When the two teams met in the corresponding fixture last season, Romney Crichlow-Noble put Welling ahead in what turned out to be his last match for the Wings. A horrific facial injury soon after half time curtailed his season. There was no further goalscoring and Welling went home with a deserved three points.
Picture supplied by Dave Budden.