Following their stunning Vanarama National League South victory at Yeovil Town last weekend, Welling United are back at home on Saturday when they host Weston-super-Mare.

Their sequence of eight league games undefeated ended at Farnborough but they bounced back by being the first team to win at Yeovil this season, and in so doing being the only club to beat them home and away.

Anthony Grant scored the only goal of the game but any suggestion that it was a ‘smash and grab’ raid could not be further from the truth. Other than the first ten minutes, and the last five, Welling were the better team and goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook only had one real save to make.

Now, following the postponement of their Tuesday night game at Hampton and Richmond Borough, they host one of the best footballing teams in the league. Weston are in a position in which it seems unlikely that they can reach the play-offs, but are only a win or two away from guaranteeing safety.

When Welling visited Weston on a bitterly cold December afternoon, the Seagulls claimed the points with a comfortable four-two victory. Reuben Reid put the Seagulls ahead just after the half hour mark, and they held the lead until the break.

Tristan Abrahams equalised from the spot nine minutes after the break but a Will Wood own goal put Weston back ahead on the hour mark. Reid scored again with fifteen minutes to go and James Morton added a fourth goal soon after. Although Josh Chambers pulled one back with six minutes remaining, it was two little too late.

While Welling’s game at Hampton was postponed, Weston were able to play on Tuesday evening, losing two-nil at home to St. Albans City. That followed two one-nil victories, at home to Dover Athletic and away at Chippenham Town. Their away form is reasonable having won eight, drawn two, and lost eight.

As this is Weston’s first season back in the National League South, there was no corresponding game last season. Their last meeting at Park View Road was in November 2018 when the Wings won three-one. David Ijaha opened the scoring in the seventh minute but Tom Llewellyn levelled when firing into an empty net from forty yards.

Three minutes later Matt Paterson put the Wings back ahead but they did not guarantee the three points until Nasim L’Ghoul scored until the sixth minute of second half stoppage time.

Another new signing will be available for Rod Stringer’s Wings. David Amoo has signed on loan from Ebbsfleet United. Further good news for Welling supporters came in the news that Jason Adigun and Gene Kennedy’s respective loans have been extended until the end of the season.

Images courtesy of Dave Budden