We respect people in our League but there's not many we fear, says Barry Ashby

The Wings make the long trip to Dorset sitting in third-place in the Blue Square Bet (Conference) South table and in the penultimate qualifying round in The FA Cup after beating a plucky Concord Rangers side in midweek.

Welling United had to play with 66 minutes without their influential player-manager Jamie Day after he picked up a red-card for a two-footed tackle.

But Concord defender Steve King sliced Jack Obersteller’s free-kick into the bottom left-hand corner of his own goal to give the Wings the lead four minutes after Day’s dismissal.

The Essex side deservedly equalised after 69 minutes when striker Tony Stokes scored his seventh goal of the season, heading home from close range after Billy Coyne’s excellent cross.

But Welling United grabbed the victory when Joe Healy squeezed home a penalty just six minutes later after Loui Fazakerley’s excellent cross from the right saw substitute Lee Clarke fouled in the box.

But before Welling United can concentrate on their home tie against Ryman Premier League basement side Thurrock in the next round on 6 October, they have two crucial games to play.

Looking ahead to their trip to second-placed Dorchester tomorrow, Ashby, 41, said, “I think we’ve conceded six goals in our last two games there so that’s something we’re trying to rectify straight away.

“Look, it’s a tough league,  it’s no doubt, tough away games, any away game we have so we have to make sure we prepare properly and make sure the boys look after themselves between now and Saturday and get ourselves ready for the long journey down there and when we get there make sure we’re right and ready to go.

“We have conceded too many goals for my liking but they’re a good team. They are at home and sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say they’ll be better than us at times.

“Yes, tough game, but definitely a game that we’re looking forward to. 

“We respect people in our League but there’s not many teams we look at and fear and we think we can go there and get some points.”

All attention then turns to the Kent derby showdown against Dover Athletic at Park View Road next Tuesday.

“It’s early doors.  I’d like to be unbeaten at home at the end of the season.  That’s more important.

“We’ll worry about Dover after we’ve got Dorchester out of the way first.

“This League is tough wherever you go, home or away, there’s no given points.  You have to work hard and you need that little bit of quality and make that little bit of luck and hopefully we’ll come out the other side.”

With his side pushing for promotion again – after finishing in third place behind promoted sides Woking and Dartford – Ashby is desperate to land a lengthy FA Cup run.

Welling United should be good enough to beat a Thurrock side that are rooted to the foot of the Ryman Premier League.  The Essex side were Welling’s Conference South rivals until their relegation last season when they finished rock bottom.

“Hopefully we’ll play better than we did on Tuesday night and get a little bit of luck and hopefully we’re in the  next round again and in the hat and see where we go from there,” said the former Gillingham defender.

“We’ve not been the best in the Cups. We’ve done ok in the League but we’ve not been the best in the Cups.  We’ve had a little bit of bad luck here and there. We’ve had decisions go against us but that happens in the Cup.

“Hopefully this year will be the year and we go a little bit further.”

Visit Welling United’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/wellingutd

Dorchester Town  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 29^th September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Avenue Stadium, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset DA1 2RY