MATCH PREVIEW: CONCORD RANGERS VS WELLING UNITED

 Match Preview 

Concord Rangers vs Welling United 

Concord Rangers 

Colours: Yellow 

Nickname: The Beach Boys 

Founded: 1967 

Welling United 

Colours: Red 

Nickname: The Wings 

Founded: 1963 

 

This Saturday sees the conclusion of the National League South season as 15th placed Concord Rangers entertain a Welling United side that secured their league status last weekend with a 3-2 win over already crowned champions Maidstone United. 

The Beach Boys come into this game winless and without a clean sheet in five matches, with Chris Search’s men conceding 12 goals across these five fixtures (seven of which came in a loss at Dorking). However, on the plus side Concord’s recent home form has been very impressive with only one loss in their last seven games at the Aspect Arena. 

Welling will be looking to do the double over Concord for the first time since the 2016/17 season, following a 2-1 win for The Wings back in August at Park View Road. Warren Feeney’s men come into this fixture with a good recent record in Canvey, winning three of their last five visits to the Aspect Arena. 

The Wings will be looking to end the season with a four-game unbeaten streak provided they avoid defeat on Saturday which may be unlikely as the South-East London outfit have the worst away record in the division (winning just three times on their travels this term). 

Goals should be likely as the hosts are without a clean sheet in five, whilst for Welling they haven't picked up an away clean sheet since a 0-0 draw at Chelmsford in mid-January. 

Managers 

Chris Search 

Concord’s former under 18’s coach was appointed manager of the first team in May 2021 following the resignation of Danny Scopes. It has been a solid start to management for Search who is assisted by former MK Dons and Luton Town winger Danny Green. With his first full season at the helm ending in comfortable survival. 

 

Warren Feeney 

Feeney during his playing days with
Northern Ireland. Credit: Nick Potts/PA

41-year-old Feeney was appointed in March of this year as successor to Peter Taylor, with the challenge of keeping Welling in the National League South; a challenge he has achieved at the expense of Billericay Town.  

During his playing days Feeney represented a host of clubs including: AFC Bournemouth, Stockport County and Plymouth Argyle as well as the Nothern Irish national team. 

Following his retirement in 2015 Feeney has had assistant roles at the likes of: Newport County, Crawley Town and Notts County. He has also managed Northern Irish side Ards and Bulgarian outfit Pirin Blagoevgrad- who he led to the Bulgarian first division. 

Since his appointment with The Wings, Feeney has: won three, drawn two and lost four. 

Key Players 

Danny Green 

Green tussles for possession against
Dulwich Hamlet (Credit: Brixton Buzz)

Concord’s key player so far this season has certainly been their top scorer Danny Green (not to be confused with their assistant manager). 

Green, who netted from the penalty spot in Concord’s win over St Albans on Tuesday, currently leads the way for The Beach Boys with 13 goals to his name. 

The 31-year-old has played for 16 clubs during his career such as: Dagenham & Redbridge, Dover Athletic, Boreham Wood and Wealdstone. It was with the latter where he had the biggest impact, netting 40 times in over 200 appearances. Green joined Concord in June 2021. 

 

Dipo Akinyemi 

Akinyemi is Welling's top
scorer (Credit: Welling United)

A man in form right now Welling’s top scorer has scored four goals in their last five games and 18 throughout the season as a whole.  

Still only 24 Akinyemi started his career with Stevenage where he made a handful of appearances getting on the scoresheet once. During his time at Boro, Akinyemi enjoyed multiple loan spells at a variety of clubs including: Aldershot Town, St Albans City and Billericay before joining Dulwich Hamlet in 2019. 

Akinyemi would make over 50 appearances for the Hamlet before departing to Braintree Town where he had a brief spell with the Iron prior to joining Welling in December 2019. 

Recent Results 

Concord 

2-7 vs Dorking (A) 

1-1 vs Slough (H) 

1-2 vs Oxford City(H) 

1-1 vs Chelmsford (A) 

Welling 

0-4 vs Dorking (H) 

2-2 vs Havant and Waterlooville (H) 

2-1 vs Hungerford Town (A) 

3-2 vs Maidstone United (H) 

Head-to-Head 

 

Date	Home	Score	Away
30/08/2021	Welling	2-1	Concord
10/11/2020	Concord	1-1	Welling
31/08/2019	Concord	3-0	Welling
29/12/2018	Welling	0-1	Concord

 

By Nathan Williams