We’ll enter the Raynes Park Vale game looking to get a positive result and continue our decent runs in The FA Vase in our short few years in the competition, says Welling Town boss Kevin Oakes

WELLING TOWN chairman/manager Kevin Oakes says he is expecting a competitive Raynes Park Vale side in The FA Vase Second Qualifying Round tomorrow.

The Boots are sitting in the bottom five in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having collected five points from their opening six games.

Lordswood, Punjab United, Tower Hamlets and Rusthall are all beneath them in the pecking order with just one point separating Welling Town with bottom side Rusthall.

Welling Town came away from Oakwood with a 4-3 win in the First Qualifying Round of The FA Vase before beating Rusthall 3-1 at Jockey Farm Stadium but lost 5-2 at Kennington last time out.

“We made hard work of getting through the last round against Oakwood, but felt overall we deserved the win and we look forward to another away tie tomorrow against new opposition in Raynes Park Vale,” said Oakes.

Raynes Park Vale play at the same level as Welling Town and go into the game sitting in sixth-place in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South table with 13 points from eight games.

Raynes Park Vale beat Steyning Town 3-1 in their opening game in The FA Vase.

“Whilst we don’t know a lot about them, they’ve had a decent start to the season in a league full of clubs we do know, so they’ll clearly be a competitive outfit and we’ll need to go into the game with the right attitude and desire to get something,” said Oakes.

“We’re missing one or two, which has sadly been the norm this season and the unfortunate injury to Sam Orisatoki last weekend will also be a miss but we do welcome positive news with the return of captain Alex Nelson after a holiday, James Miles after a slight ankle knock, which led to him missing the Kennington game and the very welcome return of Johoan Tabima after a year out with an Achilles injury.  All three will be available for selection tomorrow.”

This is Welling Town’s ninth FA Vase tie and they reached the Third Round during their first campaign in 2019-20 before bowing out to Chatham Town by a single goal.

Oakes added: “We’ll enter the game looking to get a positive result and continue our decent runs in The FA Vase in our short few years in the competition.”

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

Raynes Park Vale  v  Welling Town
The Buildbase FA Vase Second Qualifying Round
Saturday 25 September 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Prince Georges Playing Fields, Grand Drive, Raynes Park, London SW20 9DZ