We have to raise the bar a little bit again, says Welling United boss Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says he is relishing their make-or-break play-off games next week.



The Wings will finish their Blue Square Bet (Conference) South campaign in third place behind champions Woking and Dartford and welcome fifth-placed side Basingstoke Town to Park View Road tomorrow for their final league game, before the play-off lottery commences.

Basingstoke Town leapfrogged over Chelmsford City into fifth-place following their 2-0 win away to relegation threatened Hampton & Richmond Borough last Tuesday, a result that maintained Bromley’s Conference South status.

Day has worked miracles at Park View Road since taking over from Andy Ford and the midfield playmaker is proud of his side’s efforts this term.

“I’m really pleased with this year,” he said.  “We’ve got 80 points and the boys have put in an excellent effort over the course of the season.

“We’ve got one more game to see out and hopefully we can finish on a good note.”

Basingstoke Town arrive at Park View Road tomorrow with eight wins from their last nine games and have kept three successive clean sheets, and a point in Kent tomorrow will cement their place in the play-offs, along with Dartford, Welling United and last season’s Ryman Premier League champions, Sutton United.

“They’ve got to come to us tomorrow really needing to get something from the game so they’ll be looking to get a point minimum,” said Day.

“We need to be focused and ready for a tough game. We’ve trained well this week so we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game and hopefully we can get a win.”

Welling United have lost just once on home soil in the league this season.

Day said: “Obviously the game we did lose we had enough chances to get something from the game, but it wasn’t to be that day.

“It’s been an excellent home performance from the boys.  I’m proud.  The away form as well has picked up as well.

“In the last 12 games we’ve kept eight clean sheets.

“It’s been a good season and they’ve all done really well. We’ve got a big week to prepare for as well after Saturday.”

Day may continue his squad rotation tomorrow.

He said: “I’ve decided over the last four or five games we’ll chop and changed it to make sure everyone’s got minutes under their belts so that’s been done.

“It’s not going to be easy to pick a team next Wednesday after this weekend’s game, as everyone has done especially well.  It’s a good problem for me, one that’s not going to be easy.

“We’ve got a decent squad and unfortunately we can only pick eleven to start.   We’ve done exceptionally well for 41 games, 42 after Saturday. We need to kick on again and raise the bar a little bit again for the next two games coming up.”

Welling United will travel to the club who finish in fourth-place next Wednesday (presently Sutton United), before playing the second leg at Park View Road on Sunday, 6 May.  The final, at the highest placed club, takes place seven days later.

Speaking about the first leg, Day said: “They’re big games for the club and we’d like to get to the final if we can.  It’s heads down again and we’ll prepare right for Wednesday and hopefully we can get something from the game to take back home for Sunday.

“We need to go to whoever we’re playing on Wednesday and make sure we take something from the game to go into the home game. We’ll do our best and hopefully we can do that.

“Like I say, our home form has been good.  If we can defend properly away from home and hopefully give ourselves the best possibly chance.”

If Basingstoke Town leapfrog over Sutton United into fourth-place tomorrow, then Welling and Basingstoke will be playing each other again in the play-offs.

Day said:  “If we were to get beat Saturday and Sutton draw or lose we might play Basingstoke again.  It’s something that might come into play in Saturday’s fixture sorting what team I put out.

“Once you get into the play-offs, you just need to perform on the two games.  Basingstoke have been on a great run, probably the form team, who have hit form at the right time, but again, we’ve got a decent squad and a decent set of players and we’ll be prepared for whoever we play on Wednesday.”

Day, like the rest of us, would love a winner-takes-all Kent final showdown between Dartford and Welling United at Princes Park Stadium on 13 May.

Day, who played for the Darts before returning to Park View Road, said: “Both teams need to get through first!  If that was to happen it would be good for local football as well, two Kent teams in the final.  I would expect a decent crowd.

“Both clubs have got hard games in the semis, so we’re not thinking about the final.  We’re just hoping we get through the two games over the semi-finals and if we do get into the final it’s down to us to put in another good performance.”

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

Welling United  v  Basingstoke Town
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 28^th April 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY