Sitting second in the Isthmian League Premier Division, Welling United play an evening game at home to Leatherhead with a chance of returning to the top of the table.
They would have gone top on Saturday had they won at Chatham Town, but despite playing well, they lost three-two in atrocious weather conditions.
Although the Wings had the better chances in the first period, they went in at half time with the score at nil-nil. Chatham manager, Kevin Hake, brought former Welling player Brad Stevenson on at half time and he was instrumental in the first goal when his shot struck Ryan Blackman, who was attempting to block it, and the intervention caused it to go over Mackenzie Foley and into the net.
Shortly after, Kola Salami added a second before Demaray Anyadike’s thirty yard thunderbolt reduced the arrears. Jack Lyons restored the Chats’ two goal lead with another deflected goal before Zak O’Keefe scored Welling’s second.
Visitors Leatherhead have not played a league game since tenth October as they have been in knockout competition action. They should have played at Welling last Tuesday but that was postponed as they had an FA Cup replay at Yeovil Town which they lost five-two. Then, on Saturday, they hosted Eastbourne Borough in the FA Trophy. Having been two-nil down, the Tanners recovered with goals from a Nathan Hogan penalty and a goal by Cameron Black. That took the tie two penalties and Eastbourne won two-one.
This will be the return match between Welling and Leatherhead as they met at Fetcham Grove in August. In a remarkable first half, the hosts scored four times through a brace by Anas Igozouln and goals by James Dickson and Mark Waters. The Wings scored a consolation goal one minute before the end when John Ufuah netted.
Maxwell will still be without goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley and defender Louis Ramsay. Other than that, he should have the rest of his squad at his disposal and may give striker Chris Harris a full debut following his appearance as a substitute at Eastbourne.
Image courtesy of Steve Blunn