Preview - Welling United (H) - Saturday 11th January

Wealdstone will look to solidify their strong home form when the league leaders host strugglers Welling United.

THE DETAILS

Wealdstone vs Welling United

National League South

Grosvenor Vale, HA4 6JQ

Saturday 11th January, 3:00pm kick-off

THE CONTEXT

Wealdstone will be looking to get back to winning ways after consecutive defeats at Billericay Town and Oxford City in the last week; the Stones still have a four-point lead at the top of the National League South and have not lost at home since September. Welling United appointed Bradley Quinton as their new manager this week after losing six of their last seven games and slipping to 20th place, above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

TEAM NEWS

Wings loanee Adam Coombes will be unavailable to face his parent club on Saturday, but former Welling midfielder Jack Jebb will be available following his red card at Billericay in midweek. Full-back Michee Efete will be available for selection after missing out on Tuesday due to an ankle injury, while top scorer Ross Lafayette will be unavailable due to work commitments.

New signings Kieron Cadogan and Moses Emmanuel will both be available for selection, bolstering Dean Brennan's attacking options with Lafayette and Coombes unavailable.

FORM GUIDE

Wealdstone:

Billericay Town (A) 3-1 (Okimo)

Oxford City (A) 3-2 (Mendy, Coombes)

Slough Town (H) 2-1 (Efete, Lafayette)

St Albans City (H) 1-0 (Lewis)

Slough Town (A) 2-1 (Efete)

Welling United:

Weymouth (H) 1-3 (Cook)

Dartford (A) 4-0

Eastbourne Borough (A) 2-1 (Emmanuel)

Dartford (H) 0-3

Yeovil Town (A) 3-1 (Swaine)

WHO TO WATCH FOR

Anthony Cook: Cook caused Wealdstone numerous problems from set-pieces in the reverse fixture back in September, especially in the first half. He has netted four goals this season, including in the Wings’ last game against Weymouth. The midfielder has been a bright spark within the recent poor run and will look to kick-on under new manager Quinton.

Rob Swaine: Experienced centre-half Swaine could play an important role in solidifying Welling’s leaky defence. Swaine has contributed to multiple title wins and promotions with Billericay Town and Bromley and the 31-year-old could help steady the ship under Quinton at Park View Road.

LAST TIME OUT

Welling United dominated the first half in our encounter earlier this season and the Stones showed resilience to keep the game goalless at half-time. The Stones improved in the second half as Michael Phillips and Dennon Lewis’ goals gave the league leaders a two-goal lead.

Coombes’ late penalty proved only to be a consolation for Welling, as Aaron Cosgrove was in on-goal in stoppage time and was denied by Man of the Match Aston Oxborough. The game-winning save confirmed the Stones’ ninth consecutive win in the National League South back in September.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played – 17

Stones - 9

Draw – 5

Welling United – 3

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

September 2019: Welling United 1-2 Stones (Phillips, Lewis)

March 2019: Stones 1-3 Welling United (Green)

November 2018: Welling United 1-1 Stones (Stevens)

March 2018: Stones 1-0 Welling United (Wellard)

October 2017: Welling United 1-2 Stones (Sellers, Green)

Preview by Dec O’Reilly