FA Cup · 2nd Round Qualifying
Saturday 19 September, kickoff 15:00
Welling United travel to Champion Hill on Saturday afternoon looking to make their mark on this season’s FA Cup, as the Wings face Dulwich Hamlet in the Second Round Qualifying stage. Kick-off is at 15:00 BST, and with a place in the next round of the world’s oldest cup competition on the line, the stakes could hardly be higher for the Kent side as they bid to keep their Wembley dream alive for another week.
The form guide
Both sides head into Saturday’s tie with encouraging recent form, though the sample sizes remain small at this early stage of the campaign. Dulwich Hamlet arrive on the back of a single recorded result — a victory — giving them a perfect 100% form rating across their recent outings. Their defensive record in that spell is equally impressive, conceding nothing, though their attacking output has been more modest, reflected in a 27% attack rating that suggests goals have not exactly flowed freely at the other end.
Welling United, meanwhile, have gone unbeaten across their last two results, picking up a win and a draw to post a 67% form rating. The Wings have also shown defensive solidity, registering an 87% defensive rating, though like their hosts, they have found the net less frequently than they might like, with an attack rating of just 20%. For both sides, then, Saturday’s tie may well hinge on who can take their chances when they arrive rather than who creates the most of them.
The head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Nov 2019 | National League – South | Welling United | 0-0 | Dulwich Hamlet |
| 15 Feb 2020 | National League – South | Dulwich Hamlet | 0-1 | Welling United |
| 9 Mar 2021 | National League – South | Dulwich Hamlet | null-null | Welling United |
| 30 Mar 2021 | National League – South | Welling United | null-null | Dulwich Hamlet |
| 2 Jan 2022 | National League – South | Dulwich Hamlet | 0-1 | Welling United |
The recent history between these two clubs makes for interesting reading ahead of Saturday’s cup clash. Looking back across the last five meetings, Dulwich Hamlet have struggled to get the better of Welling United, with the Wings claiming victories in two of those encounters — both of which came at Champion Hill, with Welling winning 1-0 on visits in February 2020 and again in January 2022. The remaining three fixtures all ended level, including two results recorded as null in the data, alongside a goalless draw at Park View Road in November 2019. On the balance of the head-to-head record, Welling United will travel with quiet confidence, knowing they have proven difficult opponents for Dulwich in recent years, even on their own turf.
The men in the dugout
Dulwich HamletWelling UnitedDulwich Hamlet are led by H. Hayrettin, who will be looking to guide his side through what is a significant cup tie for the club. Hayrettin will be well aware of the threat Welling pose, particularly given the head-to-head record, and will need his side to be well-organised and clinical if they are to progress. For Welling United, the managerial situation remains unconfirmed ahead of the fixture, though whoever takes charge in the dugout at Champion Hill will be tasked with maintaining the Wings’ unbeaten run and building on the momentum they have gathered in recent weeks.
Players to watch
Neither side has produced a standout league scorer heading into this fixture, which adds an element of unpredictability to proceedings. With no dominant marksman to focus on from either camp, Saturday’s tie could be decided by a moment of individual quality from an unlikely source, or by a set-piece, an error, or a piece of tactical ingenuity from the dugout. Supporters of both clubs will be watching closely to see who steps up when it matters most in a cup tie where margins are invariably fine.
The prediction
Bookmaker advice: Winner : Dulwich Hamlet
The data paints a genuinely competitive picture ahead of this Second Round Qualifying tie. Dulwich Hamlet hold a slight edge in terms of form and defensive record, and the prediction engine gives the hosts a 45% chance of victory — level with the probability of a draw at 45%, with Welling given a 10% chance of taking the win. The head-to-head record, however, tells a different story, with the Wings having demonstrated a knack for getting results at Champion Hill in recent seasons. All things considered, a tight, low-scoring affair seems the most likely outcome. Dulwich Hamlet are edged as narrow favourites, but Welling United are more than capable of causing an upset — and their recent record here suggests this one should not be written off lightly.
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.