Two teams who were two leagues apart last season meet on Tuesday evening when Welling United host Ramsgate in an Isthmian League Premier Division match.

Neither club has got off to the best of starts but both had good results on Saturday. The Wings were relegated from the National League South last season and recruited a new manager and entirely new squad during the summer. On Saturday, they played out a goal-less first half against Canvey Island before scoring their first home league goal of the season four minutes after the restart.

Rather like London buses, after a long wait for the first goal, three more followed in quick succession, Zac Hambury, Greg Cundle, Logan Dobbs, and Jack Paxman from the penalty spot, were all on target. Although the visitors pulled one back in the final minute of stoppage time, it was a mere consolation.

Meanwhile, Ramsgate are starting to settle in their first season in the division having come up as champions of the Isthmian League South East Division last term. Their draw at Lewes on Saturday cost the hosts a place in the play-off spots.

Ian Gayle put the Sussex side ahead however Tijan Jadama levelled in first half stoppage time. Both teams struck the crossbar in the second period before the hosts went back ahead through Ryan Bernal. That lead was only held for three minutes before Joe Taylor equalised against oner of his former clubs.

Lee Martin, Welling’s manager, will be without Scott Simmons who will serve a suspension following his red card at Slough Town in the FA Cup. He will also be monitoring the fitness of TQ Addy and Bright Siaw who missed the match with Canvey Island.

Taylor’s return to Ramsgate after short spells at Hornchurch and Billericay Town is a major coup for the Rams’ manager Ben Smith. The prolific striker scored forty-eight goals for them last season, following fifty-three in the previous campaign. He made one appearance for Welling five years ago. 

It will be an emotional evening for Martin as he was part of Smith’s championship winning team last season so knows several of the management team and players very well. As a result, each team will be keen to claim the bragging rights.

Images courtesy of Chris Zimmerman