Welling United boss Loui Fazakerley: We probably won’t speak too much before the game but afterwards me and Jamie Day will have a beer

Sunday 08th November 2015

WELLING UNITED manager Loui Fazakerley says he is expecting a tough game against league leaders Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.

The Wings booked their place in The FA Cup Second Round for the fourth time in their history after ending Barwell’s best ever run in the competition in Leicestershire yesterday.

Goals from skipper Ricky Wellard and substitute Michael Bakare knocked out the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League hosts and the Wings are looking forward to Monday’s Second Round Draw.

They are joined by League One Millwall, who defeated AFC Fylde 3-1 at The Den, but Gillingham, Dover Athletic and Maidstone United are out after losing to Stevenage, Stourbridge and Yeovil Town respectively this weekend.

Forest Green Rovers arrive at Park View Road sitting proudly at the top of the Vanarama National League table with 38 points from 19 games – one point clear of Cheltenham Town.

Welling United are in eighteenth-place on 22 points from 19 games – six points clear of the relegation zone, occupied by Torquay United, Southport, Kidderminster Harriers and FC Halifax Town.

The Gloucestershire outfit are celebrating their 2-1 win at League Two side AFC Wimbledon in The FA Cup yesterday.

Forest Green Rovers’ manager is Adrian Pennock, while his assistant manager is Jamie Day – both former Welling United managers.

“It will be very tough,” said Fazakerley.

“We’ve had a bit of a distraction from the league obviously with The FA Cup but we’ll be switching our attention as we always do me, Matt and Paul (Matt McEntegart and Paul Barnes) will go away and we’ll get our game plan together for Forest Green.

“It’s no secret that it’s going to be a tough game but we’re at home and we’ve got to go into the game on the back of a morale boosting win.

“We’ve played them already. I still keep in touch with Jamie. We’ve got a good relationship. We probably won’t speak too much before the game but afterwards we’ll have a beer.”

George Porter, 23, is now at his 11th club since making the breaking through at Ryman League Cray Wanderers in 2009.

Porter was playing as the lone striker at Barwell yesterday and he is delighted to have got through a tricky tie unscathed.

“We got to the ground, we had a look out on the pitch and it wasn’t the greatest to be fair,” said Porter, who has only just returned from a hamstring injury.

“As soon as we got in the changing room we all got around the boys and said we’ve got a task to do. We’ve got to be professional and adapt to the pitch and the team that we’re playing against – and we got the result.

“We’ve come out on top, we won 2-0 and we’re through to the Second Round of The FA Cup and we’ll be back concentrating on the league straight away on Tuesday against Forest Green.

“The lads are really buzzing in the changing room so we will look at the draw for the next round, of course, but straight back now onto the league.

“Forest Green are doing really well in the league. We’ve been doing really well at home, who knows, hopefully we can get a win.”

Midfielder Sam Corne, meanwhile, picked up his fifth booking of the season at Barwell, so will serve his suspension against Forest Green Rovers.

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Welling United  v  Forest Green Rovers
Vanarama National League
Tuesday 10th November 2015
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY