All you need to know ahead of the Town's trip to Kent
WHERE? Welling. Not Welwyn, not Welwyn Garden City, but Welling. Welling in Kent. To be even more precise, Park View Lane. The ground lies on the main road in the town, and typing in DA16 1SY into your satnav will get you there safe and sound.
HOW TO GET THERE. Other than being guided by satellite technology, it’s a short journey – 55.5 miles according to the Google Maps boffins. The journey should take just over an hour, depending on the Saturday traffic on the M1 and M25.
Directions wise, leave the M25 at Junction 2 and take the A2 towards Central London. Leave the A2 at the third exit (signposted A221 to Bexleyheath and Sidcup). Take the A221 towards Bexleyheath and at the next roundabout turn right (3rd exit) continue towards Bexleyheath. You will go under a bridge that carries the A2. At the next roundabout take the second exit into Danson Road. Follow this road until your reach a T-junction. At these traffic lights turn left into Park View Road. The ground is down on the left. There is no car park at the ground as such, but there is plenty of street parking available.
WHO? Welling, aka the Wings, won the Conference South title last season and have begun life back in non-league’s top flight in good form. Manager Jamie Day’s side have lost just once at home at their Park View Lane home this season – against Kidderminster in early September. The Wings lie eighth in the Skrill Premier, just two points off of the Play-Offs and three behind the Hatters. Cambridge, Grimsby, Salisbury, Forest Green and Barnet have all failed to win in this corner of Kent this season.
HOW COME? Both sides were paired together in the FA Cup after both registered 1-0 wins away from home in the fourth qualifying round last month. The Town triumphed at Woking whilst the Wings won by the same scoreline at Brislington.
HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? Absolutely. Three years ago the two clubs were paired in the FA Trophy when the Wings were in the Conference South. A drab goalless draw on a Sunday afternoon meant a replay two days later at Park View Lane. An inexperienced Town fell behind to a scrappy effort from Luis Cumbers shortly before half-time, but Jason Walker levelled with 10 minutes left. With extra-time looming, Alex Lawless fired a stoppage time winner to send the Hatters through. Watch the goals here.
The team that cold December night was: Tyler, O'Donnell (sub Woodrow 68), Asafu-Adjaye, Hinton, Lacey, Besta (sub Carney 55), D. Walker (sub Patrick 76), Poku, Lawless, J. Walker, Atieno.
DEBUT DAYS. In both of those Trophy ties with the Wings the Town boss at the time, Richard Money, handed debuts to Alex Lacey, Newman Carney and Cauley Woodrow – the latter who would go on and join Premier League side Fulham. Defender Lacey made his first Hatters league start against Southport at the beginning of this season.
AWAY THE LADS. Saturday’s trip will the Hatters’ fourth successive away fixture. Town supporters who have been to Tamworth, Woking, Gateshead and Welling will have clocked up just shy of 900 miles following the Hatters in the past month…and two more matches away from Kenilworth Road follow at Braintree (next Tuesday) and Chester (a week Saturday).
IN THE GROUND. There were just 76 Town fans present at the last game between to the clubs in the FA Trophy in an overall attendance of 404 – the then record lowest attendance to watch a first team game involving the Hatters. On Saturday Town fans will be standing on the open Danson Park terrace and sitting down in the all-seater East Stand, a covered cantilevered stand which opened in 2002.
PAY ON THE DAY. To sit or stand at Park View Lane you’ll have to do so by paying on the turnstile. Ticket prices are £15 for adults, £10 for students, £9 for over 60s and under 16s and free for under 11s. And, if you want to sit down, it’s a quid extra.
NEXT ROUND? If, if, if, if, if, if the Town are in the hat for the second round draw, it's ball number 37 you'll have to look out for in Sunday's televised draw. If a replay is needed it'll be at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday 19th November.
TOWN TEAM NEWS. Boss John Still has hinted that there are likely to be few changes to the side at Park View Lane. The manager admitted Andre Gray will be missing with a slight hamstring injury whilst Elliot Justham, Jim Stevenson and Mark Cullen may all start. Midfielder Alex Lawless may also return to the Town squad following injury.
LIVE & DIRECT. We’ll have all the news as it happens from Park View Lane. Pre-match build-up, team news, live text and audio commentary, a report, reaction, photographs and interviews. Remember to keep it lutontown.co.uk, Hatters Player and check out our ever-growing Facebook and Twitter feeds. And keep an eye on our Instagram, Vine and YouTube accounts too for good measure #COYH.