Looking to end their losing streak, Welling United host Cheshunt on Saturday in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.

Seven consecutive league defeats have left the Wings in penultimate place in the league table, eight points adrift of safety, and with the worst goal difference in the division. They have not kept a clean sheet in the league all season and are yet to record a draw in any competition.

Last Saturday, they suffered a heavy defeat at Billericay Town, not helped by conceding three times in the last nine minutes. They then hosted Chatham Town on Tuesday evening and looked far more solid at the back, and could not be faulted for endeavour and work rate. However, they offered little up front and did not register a shot on target so a solitary Tope Fadashunsi goal was sufficient for the visitors to take all three points.

New manager Ryan Maxwell has already introduced six new players, predominantly to shore up the defence, and now needs to look at his attacking options. Another newcomer, pacey winger Troy Howard, was signed in time to get Thursday’s training session under his belt, and there could be another signing before the game. He confirmed that he will continue to recruit as he confirmed when he said “I want to get a team that I could say ‘that team would challenge for the play-offs.’ I won’t stop until I get a team like that.”

Visitors, Cheshunt, are in fifteenth place on twenty-two points from seventeen matches. On Tuesday, they defeated Canvey Island two-nil at home despite playing the last forty minutes with ten men after Lordon Akolbire was dismissed. Sam Granville put the hosts ahead from the penalty spot in first half stoppage time and Matthias Fanimo added a second goal one minute after the sending off. 

Although they have enjoyed a lot of cup success, and recorded plenty of draws in the league, that was their first Isthmian Premier win since their two-one victory at St Albans City on August Bank Holiday Monday. Away from home, they have won two, drawn two, and lost three.

This will be the second meeting between the two clubs as Welling visited in the opening game of the season and went down four-two. The Wings started well, and went ahead in the sixteenth minute through a goal by Ruben Shakpoke. However, George Nunn, Antonis Vasillou and Arthur Iontton all scored for the hosts to put them in a commanding position at half time. 

John Ufuah pulled one back with thirteen minutes remaining, but as Welling threw players forward looking for an equaliser they left gaps at the back and Jesse Effa rounded off a win for the hosts with a goal five minutes from time. 

Picture supplied by Chris Zimmerman.