Welling United return to league action at the J Hearnden Skip Hire Community Stadium on Saturday when they host Easrtbourne Borough (3pm).
In what is the Wings’ last game on home turf before Christmas, boss Danny Bloor will be hoping for a festive gift of three points against his former club which could see Welling lift themselves out of the bottom four for the first time since August.
Indeed, his side come into the game in good spirits with just one defeat in their last five outings and off the back of a penalty shootout victory over Brackley Town last weekend to secure their place in the fourth round of the competition.
Mitchell Dickenson remains a long-term absentee, while Jack Burchell is nearing a return to fitness, as is Taylor Curran, although Saturday’s clash could come to soon for the defensive pair.
Goalkeeper Reice Charles-Cook will be available after his red card in the last league outing at Aveley was overturned on appeal.
THE OPPOSITION
Eastbourne have seen a stuttering start to a new era under new ownership this term and currently find themselves in 22nd position in Vanarama National League South.
Mark Beard’s men have slipped into the relegation places with a run of just one victory in their last 11 outings in all competitions. Their last match ended in abandonment against Taunton Town on December 2nd with the fixture halted at half-time with Eastbourne trailing 2-1 and they were not in action last weekend due to the FA Trophy, so Saturday’s clash will be their first competitive fixture since a 4-1 defeat at Torquay United on November 28th.
The Sports will be without the suspended Lucas Defise following his dismissal at Torquay for two bookable offences.
PRE-MATCH CHAT
Danny Bloor: “It’s been another good week of training and we’re really looking forward to getting back to league action on Saturday.
“I can’t wait, it’s a massive game and we’re certainly up for it.”
LAST TIME OUT
The reverse fixture at Priory Lane back in September ended in a share of the spoils with the two sides playing out a 2-2 draw.
Decarrey Sheriff’s penalty in first-half injury time put Eastbourne ahead before Jephte Tanga bagged his first Wings goal to level matters on 67 minutes.
Tristan Abrahams then popped up with a first goal in Welling colours of his own six minutes later to take the lead, but Shiloh Remy’s 86th-minute equaliser would deny Danny Bloor’s men all three points on the coast.
TICKETS
Tickets for the clash against Eastbourne Borough are available to purchase online in advance and will also be available for cash and card at the turnstiles on the day of the match priced £15 adults, £10 concessions and students and £7 U16s, while U11s go free with an accompanying adult.
Click here to get your tickets for the Wings v Eastbourne Borough
OTHER INFO
Turnstiles will open at 1.30pm with the Wings Bar and upstairs bar open for all supporters.
Hot food will be available from the burger outlet on the right-hand side as you enter the ground. Meanwhile, the Travis Perkins bar will be open for teas, coffees, cold drinks, snacks and pies.
Post-match, a Man of the Match presentation and interview will be take place in the marquee at approximately 5.45pm.
The club’s official matchday programme, ‘The Wings’, will be available to purchase inside the ground for £3.
