Having secured Isthmian League Premier Division safety, Welling United host Billericay Town for their season finale.

Over the last eight games, the visitors are top of the form guide with maximum points while the Wings are in second place with six wins and a draw. 

Their three-two triumph at Cray Wanderers last Saturday capped off a remarkable turn around. At one point, Welling were nine points adrift of fifth from bottom, but their derby victory took them to fifteenth place, six points clear of the relegation zone. Even that match was won the hard way. They were two down in just over half an hour through goals by Olu Ogunwamide and Max Fiddes.

However, the come back started on the hour mark when Noah Stewart showed his striker’s instinct to finish after a penalty save. Then, with fifteen minutes remaining, Ayman El-Mogharbel levelled with a brilliant individual goal. Although a point would have been enough to ensure Welling stayed up, they claimed all three in the final minute of regulation time when Ibby Akanbi curled a free kick around the wall and inside the post.

They will have another tough task against Billericay. They are currently third in the league, behind Aveley, and will know that if they record a better result than the Millers, they will have home advantage guaranteed throughout the play-offs. 

While Welling were beating the Wands, Billericay were wracking up their tenth straight win when defeating Whitehawk two-nil. Jon Benton put them ahead in the twenty-fourth minute, and Callum Watts gave them breathing space with sixteen minutes remaining.

When Welling visited the Blues in November, it was Ryan Maxwell’s first game in charge and he saw, at first hand, the enormity of the task ahead of him. Two former Wings, Elliot Long and Jack Evans put the Essex team ahead before Lekan Majoyegbe scored for the visitors. Frankie Merrifield restored the Blues’ two goal lead and Tommy Davis, another ex-Welling player, made it four with ten minutes remaining. There was still time for Merrifield and Evans to finish the rout.

Only four players remain from the sixteen Wings on duty that day and, despite there being nothing more than three points at stake, Maxwell will want his team to finish the campaign with a flourish.

Picture supplied by Chris Zimmerman.