On Saturday, Welling United entertain Dulwich Hamlet in an Isthmian League Premier Division derby.

Easter results were mixed for Welling. Against Chichester City at home, they played very well, especially in the second half, and deserved their three-one win. Ade Azeez nabbed a brace and captain Dean Gunner was also on target. 

Then, two days later, they went to Brentwood Town and were a little unlucky to go in at the break one-nil down. However, an injury to Sam Smith, combined with the absence of Troy Howard, seemed to have an effect on the Wings and once they went two down, they rarely looked like getting back into the match. The defeat left them one place above the bottom four on goal difference, but still with a game in hand.

Although the play-offs are now beyond them, Dulwich still picked up four points over the two games to go four games unbeaten. They started well at Canvey Island when Anthony Jeffrey put them ahead in the fourth minute. It looked as though that would be enough but the hosts had other ideas and claimed a point by equalising with six minutes remaining.

They then hosted Carshalton Athletic on Easter Monday and got off to an even quicker start when David Smith put them ahead with less than sixty seconds on the clock. Jeffrey added a second midway through the first half to put them well in command. Although the Robins pulled one back in the second period, Dulwich held on to take the three points.

When the two teams met at Champion Hill back in September, the hosts claimed the spoils. Lekan Majoyegbe conceded a penalty and was dismissed in the twentieth minute and former Wing Anthony Cook converted from the spot. Another ex-Welling player, Amadou Kassarate, added a second to give them a two goal half time lead. Ruben Shakpoke pulled one back but Cook put the contest to bed with his second goal in the closing minutes, 

Maxwell will be monitoring the fitness of Howard and Smith and will hope to be able to field a full strength team as they look to return to winning ways and pull away from the bottom four.

Picture supplied by Chris Zimmerman.