We want to make our first day in our new home enjoyable and hope for good football and a win over Lordswood, says Welling Town boss Kevin Oakes

WELLING TOWN manager Kevin Oakes says a win over fellow strugglers Lordswood will kick-start their season.

The Boots have picked up two draws from their opening three games in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division, a place ahead of bottom-of-the-table side Lordswood, who have one point from four games.

Neil Hunter has won only two of his 21 games in charge of Lordswood in League and Cup competitions since taking over the helm at the start of last season.

Manager/chairman Oakes, meanwhile, has won four of his 17 games in League and Cup competitions during the same period.

“We’ll start our home league campaign tomorrow and myself, the management group and the players are looking forward to finally setting foot in the place and kick-starting our season,” said Oakes, whose side play a home game in Dartford for the first time.

“We’ve had some Covid issues and other games called off and I know Lordswood have had similar, which has probably not helped either club get off to the start they would otherwise have liked.

“The disjointed nature of the start would not help anyone but despite all of the challenges, we’ve played well without getting the points we would have hoped for.”

Welling Town started their league campaign by coming away from Crowborough Athletic with a point in a 2-2 draw but were dumped out of The FA Cup at the first hurdle by losing 3-2 at Crawley Down Gatwick.

The Boots then came away from Fisher with a point in another 2-2 draw but suffered a 3-0 defeat at Tunbridge Wells last time out.

“To be leading our first two games into the final few minutes and then to dominate the ball and territory on Bank Holiday Monday, and not yet put a win on the board, is difficult to accept, but we use it as a motivation and we know that if we can play as well as we did on Monday and be more clinical and disciplined, then we’ll get three points,” said Oakes.

Ryan Golding (hamstring), Taylor Robinson (suspended), Richard Jimoh (Covid), Mehmet Piro (away) and long-term injured pair Johoan Tabima (Achilles) and Malik Ouani (knee), have been unavailable.

Oakes has added Ryan Styles from newly-promoted side Rusthall who is “a very young player, only destined to improve even further."

Looking forward to playing at Lowfield Street for the first time, the owner added; “I hope we’ll see some of the usual and a few new faces at the game to make the first day in our new home enjoyable and hope for good football and a win.”

Visit Welling Town’s website: www.wellingtown.co.uk

Welling Town  v  Lordswood
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 4 September 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Glentworth Club, 154 Lowfield Street, Dartford, Kent DA1 1JB