Non League Premier – Isthmian · Regular Season – 9
Saturday 19 September, kickoff 15:00
Saturday’s lunchtime fixture at Chatham Town’s ground promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated clashes in the Isthmian Premier Division this autumn, as the Chats welcome fellow Kent outfit Welling United for a local derby with genuine league implications. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST on 19 September, and with both sides sitting in contrasting positions in the table, there is plenty at stake for K. Hake’s men as they look to arrest a patchy run of form and prove they can mix it with one of the division’s early pacesetters.
The form guide
4W 0D 4L · GD +3
LWLLW
6W 0D 2L · GD +9
WWLWW
Chatham Town head into this fixture having shown they are capable of beating anyone on their day, but consistency has proved elusive so far this season. Sitting 11th in the Isthmian Premier with 12 points from eight matches — a record of four wins and four defeats — the Chats have blown hot and cold. Their last five games tell a familiar story of promise punctuated by frustration: a win, then a loss, then back-to-back defeats, before recovering with another victory. A form rating of just 40% underlines the work still to be done, though an attack rating of 75% suggests there is genuine firepower in the side. The defensive numbers, however, make for uncomfortable reading — a rating of just 33% points to a backline that has been far too generous to opponents.
Welling United, by contrast, arrive in Chatham in the kind of form that makes them one of the most dangerous sides in the division. Second in the table with 18 points from eight games — six wins and two defeats — P. Taylor’s side have lost just once in their last five outings and carry a form rating of 80%. Their attacking output is particularly eye-catching, with a rating of 92% that marks them out as one of the most potent forces in the Isthmian Premier. Even their defensive record, at 58%, is solid enough to suggest they are a well-balanced unit capable of hurting teams in multiple ways.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 2021 | Friendlies Clubs | Chatham Town | 0-0 | Welling United |
| 14 Sept 2024 | FA Cup | Welling United | 0-1 | Chatham Town |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Welling United | 0-1 | Chatham Town |
| 21 Feb 2026 | Non League Premier – Isthmian | Chatham Town | 3-1 | Welling United |
For all Welling’s current momentum, the head-to-head record between these two sides makes for fascinating reading — and it will give Chatham supporters genuine cause for optimism. In the last three competitive meetings between the clubs, Chatham Town have won all three. The Chats claimed a 1-0 victory at Welling in September 2024, repeated the feat with another 1-0 win at the same venue in November 2025, and then delivered their most emphatic statement yet with a 3-1 home victory over the Wings in February 2026. That recent sequence represents a remarkable run of dominance for Chatham in this fixture, and the head-to-head comparison sits at a striking 91% in the home side’s favour. Whatever the league table might suggest, history firmly backs Chatham Town when these two Kent clubs meet.
The men in the dugout
Chatham Town
Welling UnitedChatham Town manager K. Hake will be acutely aware that his side’s inconsistency needs addressing, and a home derby against a top-two side represents both a significant challenge and a golden opportunity to galvanise his squad. Getting the defensive shape right will be his primary concern ahead of kick-off. Welling United’s P. Taylor, meanwhile, has his side playing with real confidence and cohesion. With his team second in the table and in excellent form, Taylor will be looking to maintain the momentum that has made Welling one of the early frontrunners for promotion this season.
Players to watch
No individual has emerged as a standout league scorer for either side at this stage of the campaign, which means the contest is likely to be shaped by collective effort and tactical discipline rather than the influence of a single match-winner. For Chatham, the key will be channelling that 75% attack rating into clear-cut chances, while ensuring the defensive frailties that have cost them points this season are kept in check. For Welling, maintaining the relentless attacking output that has yielded that remarkable 92% attack rating will be the priority — if they create chances at their usual rate, they will be a handful for any backline in the division.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Combo Double chance : Chatham Town or draw and +1.5 goals
On paper, Welling United’s superior league position and recent form make them the logical favourites. But the head-to-head record is impossible to ignore — Chatham have beaten the Wings three times in a row, including a convincing home win earlier this year, and the Chats’ own win probability of 45% reflects just how competitive this fixture is expected to be. The prediction engine points toward a double chance covering Chatham or a draw, with goals likely given both sides’ attacking intent. This feels like a match where Chatham’s home advantage and derby-day motivation could cancel out Welling’s superior form, making a tight, competitive affair the most likely outcome. A narrow Chatham win or a hard-fought draw seems the most probable result — but with Welling’s firepower in the mix, expect it to be anything but straightforward.
League standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 |  Dulwich Hamlet | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | +7 | 13 |
| 10 |  Eastbourne Borough | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 13 |
| 11 | Chatham Town | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | +3 | 12 |
| 12 |  Wingate & Finchley | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 11 |
| 13 |  Aveley | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | +2 | 10 |
Preview data via api-football. Form, head-to-head, standings, manager and prediction figures sourced live at the time of compilation; squad and team-news availability subject to last-minute change.