On Tuesday evening, Welling United host Folkestone Invicta in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.
Although there is roughly sixty miles between the two clubs, the match is deemed to be a derby by virtue of the fact that both teams are affiliated to the Kent FA.
It will be a welcome return home for Welling who have played their last nine league and cup matches away from their University of Greenwich sponsored Park View Road stadium. During that time they have had a management change so it will be Rod Stringer’s first game in charge there in his second spell at the club.
Their final away game of the spell on the road was on Saturday which was a more local derby at in-form Dartford. It could barely have been a better start for the Wings when they went ahead in the third minute through Ruben Shakpoke. However, two goals in the first five minutes after the break, both scored by Eddie Dsane, put the hosts in control and Olly Box added a third to end Welling’s hopes.
Jay Saunders’ Folkestone team have got off to a tremendous start to the season. Having suffered their first defeat of the season last midweek at Hashtag United, they bounced back on Saturday with a two-one home victory against Billericay Town. Dean Rance put them ahead in the nineteenth minute, however, the visitors equalised just shy of the hour mark. It took Invicta just three minutes to go back ahead through a goal by Jake Hutchinson and that was enough to earn them the three points.
Then their afternoon got even better when they discovered that league leaders Brentwood Town had suffered a five-nil home defeat at the hands of struggling Wingate and Finchley. As a result, Folkestone are in second place in the table, five points behind Brentwood but with two games in hand. Chatham Town are also in the mix, three points adrift of Folkestone having played one game fewer.
Stringer will be keen to mark his homecoming with a victory and may introduce another new player to freshen up their squad. However, Folkestone will start as strong favourites as they continue to press for the league title.
Picture supplied by Keith Gillard.