We've got nothing to fear, says Welling United player-manager Jamie Day

WELLING UNITED player-manager Jamie Day says he is looking forward to playing in Sunday’s winner-takes-all Blue Square Bet South play-off final at Dartford.



The Wings, who finished in third place in the table, seven points behind runners-up Dartford, booked their place in Sunday’s showdown after beating Sutton United 2-1 on aggregate.

They done the hard work at Gander Green Lane, as goals from Lee Clarke and Joe Healey secured a 2-1 win, before a resilient performance at home played out a goal-less draw.

Dartford came away from Basingstoke Town with a slender advantage too, coming away from The Camrose with a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Lee Noble’s strike inside first half stoppage time.

But goals from influential skipper Elliot Bradbrook and Danny Harris sealed Tony Burman’s passage into the final, with a 2-1 victory at home.

Welling United have been handed 1,000 tickets and their fans’ will be segregated at the car park end of Dartford’s Princes Park Stadium.

This game is arguably the BIGGEST EVER Kent derby.  The winners will clinch promotion back into the top-flight of non-league football – the Blue Square Bet (Conference) Premier.

It has been 12 years since Welling United played at that level and Day is relishing the winner-takes-all showdown against his former club, where he made 55 appearances for the Darts between 2008 and 2009.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said 32-year-old Day, who pulls the strings in the middle of the park.

“They obviously finished second and scored a good number of points (88) and with us being third, it’s a good game to play in and be involved in and hopefully we can get the right result.”

Tickets for Sunday’s crunch game are the hottest tickets in town and fans’ must visit their respective clubs to grab the last remaining ones.

“I think, if I’m honest, I’d like to think it will be sold out,” warned Day. “I think we’ll bring a decent amount of supporters. In fairness to Dartford they have good support anyway so I’m looking forward to it.”

The Welling United boss wants to make it a day to remember.

He said:  “Obviously we want to win on Sunday.  It’s been a fantastic season so far and we’ll like to cap it off with a win and get in the Conference.”

Day urges his team-mates to rise to the big occasion as there will be a lot of tension both on and off the pitch.

When asked what he will tell his players, Day replied, “For me, just go out and enjoy it.  They’ve put themselves in this position by playing consistently well over the season so we’ve got nothing to fear, nothing to be nervous about.   Just go out and enjoy it and hopefully put in a decent performance.”

The two Kent club’s locked horns over the Christmas period.  A crowd of 1,815 saw a 1-1 draw at Park View Road, before Dartford won the return game 1-0 at Princes Park, in front of a crowd of 2,559.

Visit Welling United’s website for ticketing details.  www.wellingunited.com  

Dartford  v  Welling United
Blue Square Bet South Play-Off Final
Sunday 13^th May 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, Kent DA1 1RT