Following a trio of cup matches, Welling United are back in Isthmian League Premier Division action when they entertain AFC Whyteleafe.

Defeat at Dulwich Hamlet ended the Wings’ FA Cup hopes then, following a two-two draw at home to Chertsey Town in the FA Trophy, they lost the penalty shoot-out five-four. Fielding a mixture of experience and youth, they travelled the short distance to Cray Valley PM on Tuesday evening and beat them three-nil in the Kent Senior Cup. Youngster Santino Norris gave Welling an early lead and Nahum Melvin-Lambert hit a brace in the last fifteen minutes to see them home.

They come into the match in third place, three points behind Dartford who have played a game more. AFC Whyteleafe, who were promoted last season, are in the bottom four at present, having won once, drawn three times, and lost four. Away from home, they have won one point from a draw at Leatherhead.

In their most recent outing, Whyteleafe played fellow Isthmian League Premier Division team, Whitehawk at home and they crashed to a disappointing four-one defeat. Kamarni Ryan scored a hat-trick within the first twenty-one minutes. Although Daniel Bennett pulled one back on the stroke of half time, Ryan added his and his team’s fourth twelve minutes after the restart and that concluded the goalscoring.

Ryan Maxwell will be without goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley and will have to check the fitness of Chris Arthur who missed the Trophy and Kent cup matches, along with Sam Smith who sustained an injury against Cray Valley. Other than that, he should have a full squad at his disposal as Welling look to extend their impressive league home unbeaten run.

Image courtesy of Romana Rule