THE AWAY END - Welling United

WELLING UNITED

Nickname: The Wings
Manager: Ryan Maxwell
Stadium: Park View Road
Capacity: 4,000

The Blues return to New Lodge this afternoon after back-to-back away fixtures, welcoming Welling United for the first time in more than three years. The Wings arrive in a period of transition, with new manager Ryan Maxwell taking charge of his first Isthmian Premier League match since his appointment earlier this week.

It has been a difficult campaign for Welling following their relegation from the National League South last season. They have managed just three wins from their opening 16 league games, losing the other 13, and have already seen three managers in the dugout, with Lee Martin and Rod Stringer both departing before Maxwell’s arrival.

There were early signs of encouragement for the new boss in midweek, as he guided his side to a 3–1 victory over a youthful Folkestone Invicta team in the Velocity Cup. However, the league form remains a pressing concern, with the Wings currently enduring a run of five consecutive defeats.

Their most recent league win came against Ramsgate on 14 October, while their only other away success this season was at Chichester City back in August. At both ends of the pitch, Welling have struggled to find consistency, scoring just 17 league goals while conceding 35 – the joint-second highest total in the division.

This afternoon’s visitors also feature several familiar faces for Blues supporters, as Femi Akinwande and Jack Paxman both return to New Lodge, alongside ex-Blues Dion Curtis-Henry, John Ufuah, and Eze Ebuzoeme.

Today marks the first meeting between the clubs since March 2022, when a crucial relegation six-pointer ended in a 2-2 draw at New Lodge. Goals from Akinwande and Greg Halford earned a point that afternoon, but it was not enough to prevent the Blues finishing two points behind today’s visitors.


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