King Can’t Call National League South Shoot-Out

Welling United manager Steve King says Sunday’s National League South Promotion Final shoot-out with Woking is too tight to call.

But he says it’s only correct that it’s second against third for the right to clinch promotion.

The Wings head to Surrey after both sides survived a big scare last weekend.

Going 2-0 up in the semi-final, Chelmsford bit back - and that put their progress under threat.

But King’s sides are made of strong stuff and after seeing the Clarets draw level they pinched it with a penalty in time added on from Brendan Kiernan.

The midfielder will come up against his old Hampton manager Alan Dowson - them both sharing heartache 12 months ago as the Beavers were beaten on penalties in the final by Braintree.

One of them will be celebrating this weekend, and King believes his team can handle the big occasion.

“It’s been a fantastic season,” he told us during an interview for the special matchday programme.

“The players, all things considered, have been magnificent - but of course we want to finish the job.

“It’s very difficult to call. We have played them twice obviously this season. They have taken four points but on different days we could have had six!

“It’s very difficult to answer the question about where it will won and lost. In my eyes it’s a 50-50 match.

“The two sides ended the season only a few points off each other, and there were two very tight games.

“Both teams are evenly matched, both have match winners and both score goals. It’s exciting!

“It will come down to luck and who handles the day.”

King thinks maybe the expectation won’t be on his players come 3pm at the Laithwaite’s.

“Nobody thought we would be in this situation,” he adds. “Woking will be desperate to go up and will have a huge crowd behind them.

“I believe it will be a really good final and whoever goes up will deserve to, there’s no question about that.”

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