If we play the way we can do then we're positive we can get a result, says Jack Parkinson

WELLING UNITED captain Jack Parkinson says he is relishing playing in the two massive play-off games against Sutton United.



The Wings finished their Blue Square Bet (Conference) South campaign in third place with 81 points, behind champions Woking (97 points) and Dartford (88) and face Paul Doswell’s side over two-legs, starting with the away leg at Gander Green Lane on Wednesday night, followed by the home leg at Park View Road on Sunday, 6 May.

“We’ve had a good season,” reflected 22-year-old Parkinson.  “It would have been nice, maybe, if we could have got closer to Woking, but it wasn’t to be at the end, but we’re more than happy with what we’ve done and achieved so far.

“Hopefully it’s the start of something, possibly, we’ve got two big games now coming up.  We’ve done great in the league so far.  We’ll see what happens now.”

Parkinson scored his tenth goal of the season in 38 games in the 1-1 home draw against a Basingstoke Town side who have grabbed the fifth-place. 

The Hampshire side will welcome Dartford to The Camrose on Wednesday, before travelling to the second leg at Princes Park next Sunday.

“They’ve been on a great run, they’re one off, if not the form team in the league,” Parkinson said of Basingstoke, whose win away to Hampton & Richmond Borough six days ago maintained Bromley’s Conference South status.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, which is what we wanted really going into Wednesday’s game.  We needed a tough one on Saturday and we got that.

“They had a go first 20 minutes and once they scored they sat off. I scored just before half-time and they knew the score with Sutton winning and Chelmsford losing as well.  I think all they needed to get was a point.  They sat off in the second half and we dominated the game without hurting them too much.

“They’re a decent side, but they didn’t cause us many problems.”

Player-manager Jamie Day has tinkered with the team over recent weeks to get players minutes under their belts ahead of the make-or-break play-offs.

Parkinson agreed with Day’s policy, saying, “At the end of the day it’s the old cliché that the manager I suppose picks the team and you have to get on with it! I think he’s been quite clever with what he’s done. He hasn’t showed his hand to anybody.  We’ve tried different shapes and formations and he’s made sure each player has got a good amount of minutes so come Wednesday whatever team he picks everyone’s ready and fit.

“If we had played the same sort of side over the last three weeks people may have picked up more knocks, more injuries and tiredness.  He’s been clever and it can only help in the long run.”

Welling should bring a good number of supporters to Gander Green Lane on Wednesday considering the short journey and Parkinson says he is looking forward to the two mammoth games.

Sutton United have done extremely well in their first season back at Conference South level after winning the Ryman Premier League title last season, finishing in fourth-place, seven points adrift of Welling.

The two sides played out a goal-less draw at Park View Road in March, after Sutton United won 4-3 at Gander Green Lane back in December.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” said Parkinson.  “We’re training tonight and all the boys are excited. 

“We haven’t beaten them in the league this year but at the same time when we played them at home we were unlucky.  We missed three or four one-on-ones, we went down to ten men early in the second half and we dominated the game.”

Reflecting on the seven-goal thriller away from home, Parkinson added: “It’s a bit of a funny one really. We didn’t defend well, they didn’t defend well and they took their chances and that was it in the end, but they’re a decent side, they’re a strong outfit and we know we have to be on top of our game.

“We do know if we play the way we can do then we’re positive we can get a result.”

When asked how he thinks Day will play the two-legged affair, Parkinson replied, “I was asked the question on Saturday how you approach the away leg.  It’s down to the manager. To me it’s a pitch, it’s eleven-v-eleven.  It will be different. It doesn’t matter too much.  Maybe you have to be a little bit cautious when you go away from home.

“The players’ we’ve got, it won’t affect us too much whether we’re playing at home, neutral or away.

“If we perform the way we can play, we shouldn’t have a problem.

“Our away form wasn’t great at the start of the year and that picked up towards the end and our home form is quite good (with one defeat in 21).   We’re more than confident if we do what we’re good at then we can get a result.”

The dream scenario will be an all-Kent play-off final winner-takes-all showdown between Dartford and Welling United at Princes Park.

Parkinson said: “Without looking too far ahead, we need to get this week out of the way first and what will be will be I suppose.  It will be nice as a neutral, definitely.  As a player you want to play in the big games and if that’s the case and we’re fortunate enough to get through, it will be definitely something we will be relishing.”

Parkinson paid tribute to Day, Barry Ashby and Dean Frost  - the club’s management team who have worked miracles over the past couple of years under a tight budget.

“They’ve been brilliant.  I’ve been there a bit longer than they have, but since they’ve come in they’ve definitely turned things around.

“I’m sure everyone that knows we haven’t got the biggest budget in the league and the players he’s got in under the circumstances, including last year, they’ve been brilliant.  They’ve helped me untold as a player.”

Meanwhile, the club have announced that winger turned right-back Loui Fazakerley and attacker Loick Pires have scooped this year’s fans’ and players’ player-of-the-season awards.

Sutton United have confirmed admission charges for Wednesday’s game:
£11 (adults), £6 (concessions) and £2 (under 16s) with a £1 stand transfer charge.

A club statement added: “We are anticipating a large attendance, so would encourage spectators to arrive as early as possible.

“The Players’ Bar will be open from 6pm and the Times Square Lounge open from 6:30pm, with three real ales on tap and hot foot available from 6:30pm.  Welling supporters are more than welcome to join us before the game.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com

Sutton United  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg
Wednesday 2^nd May 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2EY