Statistically, you’re never more than 17 minutes away from a goal at a Fleet-Welling match in recent times. There have been 32 of them – goals that is – in the past six games between the clubs. Last season, between us we rattled in 12 in two meetings.
As if both sides aren’t doing their level best to entice more supporters through their respective gates, this Kent derby promises much for the neutral fan, too.
Even without Welling’s contribution, the goals-for column makes healthy reading for the Fleet with the 32 bagged in 11 matches of league competition so far this season the best opening tally since 1958/59. Dominic Poleon grabbed his 12th of the season in all competitions against Sevenoaks Town, while Greg Cundle’s return is none too shabby either – and he’s opened the scoring in both of Fleet’s last games.
Fleet will have been glad of the full seven days’ respite with a busy period following this Saturday’s game that sees a Saturday-Tuesday set of matches all the way through to December – with the Chelmsford game still needing to be pencilled in and potential advancement in the FA Cup, FA Trophy and Kent Senior Cup all on the horizon.
But that’s for another day as it’s all about the visit of a vastly improved Welling United this weekend. The Wings were staring Isthmian League football in the face towards the end of last season but did enough to send Billericay down instead and that may prove to be a crucial turning point in their history as now they’re gazing up towards the other end of the National South table.
Although a 3-0 home defeat to St Albans last week rather put a dent in progress, before that Warren Feeney’s side had enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run in the league – and they won’t need much encouragement to go about correcting last week’s aberration here at the Kuflink Stadium.
What’s more, Welling enjoy an unbeaten league record away from home which, when up against Fleet’s own unbeaten record, makes for even greater appeal for this match.
The Wings played in midweek, too, in the London Senior Cup but it was largely a reserve and youth side they put out to defeat Cray Valley PM. Like the Fleet, they have a big enough squad to cope with the extra cup-competition demands, having recruited heavily in the summer as a result of new investment.
Only two players who turned out when last the clubs met in April are likely to feature in Welling’s squad this coming weekend. In have come Ade Azeez and Tyrique Hyde from Dartford, with other notable new recruits including former Fleet loanee Stefan Payne from Chesterfield via Havant, skipper James Dunne from Southend, Manny Parry from Woking, Sam Cox formerly of Hampton and goalkeeper Myles Roberts from Concord.
Their summer business complete, Welling haven’t stopped there, adding three players more recently – a fee was paid to land midfielder Devonte Aransibia from Chelmsford, Iraqi international Yaser Kasim made his debut last weekend, while former Millwall defender Sid Nelson has been loaned from Woking for a month.
Azeez, who started last season in red-hot goalscoring form for Dartford, is unsurprisingly the chief threat with six goals, but Payne – who scored against the Fleet for Havant on loan last season – is close behind on five goals, though he missed the St Albans match last week.
While Welling have enjoyed top-ten status all season, they do need to turn draws and a few stuttering performances into wins and added points to cement a play-off position. They were minutes from a win at home to Havant & Waterlooville before a late rally by the division’s only other unbeaten side. Another significant result was a 5-0 thrashing of Oxford City, the only side to take points off the Fleet so far this season.
MATCHDAY SMALL PRINT ——–>
ONLINE SALES
Our online ticketing sales platform at fleetlive.club has tickets available until 12.00pm on matchday. We would advise pre-purchase for both your and our convenience in gaining admission to the ground.
On-the-day ticket sales are available from the windows by main reception, accepting card and cash payments. Turnstiles open at 1pm but they will only accept online tickets (printed out or on your device) and tickets bought at the windows on matchday. There is a dedicated gate for season-ticket holders but they may also use their cards through other turnstile gates.
MAIN STAND BAR
There is no segregation for this game – so all supporters are welcome in our Main Stand Bar and Social Club bar. To access the Main Stand bar, enter through the turnstiles and walk the length of the gangway in the Main Stand to the door at the Swanscombe (uncovered) End. There is signage pointing you in the direction. Dennis Kutrieb does a pre-match teamsheet run-through and he and other players attend the bar post-match as well for the man of the match presentation.
CATERING OUTLETS
Check out our food stalls (to the left of the main turnstiles entrance, there is our Würtsel Haus German sausage experience and straight ahead as you enter the ground is the Manhattan Grill for all your burger, hot dog and more needs!). Pop-up bars are also situated near to the turnstiles and by ‘Geeks Corner’ between the Plough End and old stand. We have a Hofmeister popup to be found in the marquee between the main turnstiles entrance and the Main Stand.
CAR PARKING
Car-parking as per usual on matchdays is available at Ebbsfleet International Car Park C for £3. Please have the correct change if possible to aid our parking staff and again, we would recommend an early arrival. Please note that the areas near to Northfleet Station, namely Railway Street and Hamerton Road, are resident/permit-only parking and non-valid vehicles will be ticketed. The area on Thamesway before the roundabout as you approach the Kuflink Stadium is a designated clearway – though that is not particularly apparent as you approach – so you are advised not to park here because of the risk of being ticketed.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMMES
If you wish to purchase your programme in advance for collection from our club shop before you enter the ground, you can do so either via our online shop or when booking your matchday tickets online.
Programmes are also on sale at the ground from the club shop, the popup bar as you enter the turnstiles, the Main Stand tea kiosk or in the Social Club behind the Plough End, costing £3. Advance-order programmes will be available to pick up from the club shop before the game and before you enter the turnstiles.
