On Saturday Welling United continue their trilogy of consecutive league home games in eight days when they host Chippenham Town in a Vanarama National League South fixture.

In the first of them on Tuesday, they crashed to defeat at home to Braintree Town. It was a dour game against an uncompromising opposition who scored a goal in each half. Other than in the first twenty minutes, Welling didn’t threaten.

While Welling were struggling against the Iron, Chippenham were claiming a point at Hemel Hempstead Town, enabling them to ease out of the bottom four. They looked to be on their way to an important victory when Craig Fasanmade put them ahead five minutes after the break but they suffered the heartbreak of conceding in the third minute of stoppage time.

They are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, however they do have games in hand.

Away from home, the Bluebirds have won just twice (at Bath City and Chelmsford City), drawn six, and lost nine. They have gone three games undefeated having drawn with Ebbsfleet United and Cheshunt before the Hemel game.

The reason for their fixture backlog was due to their F.A. Cup run to the second round during which they defeated Lincoln City.

Their cup run is part of the reason that the two clubs are yet to play each other as the original date was a cup date and the rearranged fixture was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Last season, Chippenham were the only team from whom Welling claimed all six points, and their away game in Wiltshire was the only game that won by more than one goal, a three-one victory.

The corresponding game at Park View Road was a tighter affair. Ade Shokunbi scored the only goal seven minutes into the second half.

Welling manager Warren Feeney will have to monitor injuries to Taylor Maloney and Taylor Curran but will be have the option to start James Dunne and Stefan Payne following the completion of their suspensions.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.