Cowes Sports, East Cowes Victoria and Newport all compete in the 2nd Qualifying Round of the FA Vase this afternoon (21st September).
The FA Vase is a national competition for teams playing in steps 5 and 6 in the non-league pyramid. Altogether, 409 clubs will be competing in the Vase across the length and breadth of England.
At this stage of the competition, the winners of each tie earn £725 prize money with the losers picking up £225. The team lifting the cup takes £30,000.
Newport – the only Isle of Wight team with a home tie – face fellow Wessex Division 1 side Verwood Town at Beatrice Avenue.
Verwood currently lie 16th in the table with just 1 win in the 8 games they have played in the season to date.
On Tuesday, Port were knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup by National League Aldershot, who included 9 of their first team in the squad that travelled to Beatrice Avenue..
Port co-manager Joe Butcher says of the 1-7 defeat:
“I’m happy with parts of Tuesday, particularly the first half. In the second half, their extra quality and fitness kicked in but that’s to be expected as is the score line playing that many of their first team squad.”
Joe says of his team’s chances against Dorset side Verwood:
“Any cup game is a difficult proposition, but we want to have a cup run this year, and we’ll have to play well if we want to advance.
“Vase games are worth valuable funds for the club.”
The Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives, Cowes Sports, travel across the Solent to face Fareham Town, who currently lie 3rd in the same division.
Earlier in the season, the Yachtsmen drew their opening game 1-1 against Fareham at Cams Alders, with their goal scored by Liam Triggs.
The Creeksiders have been in fantastic form of late, having won their last 3 fixtures 8-4, 9-0 and 3-1.
Ian Potts – who has been managing the side since the departure of Max Draper – says:
“After the performance last week against Baffins Milton Rovers and a good week of training, the lads are quietly confident and looking forward to it.
“We as a club enjoy the FA Vase and hope to get a result. Even though we drew with Fareham in the first game of the season, they are a massive club, who are near the top of the table and have won by some massive score lines of late against some good teams, so we will not be taking them lightly.
“We have had a lot of injuries this season, but we are slowly getting players back each week.”
East Cowes Victoria travel to Wessex Premier Blackfield & Langley.
Vics further strengthened their side by signing Cowes Sports midfielder Liam Triggs last night. However, he will be unavailable for the trip across the Solent today.
Manager Alex Smith says of the challenge:
“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to test ourselves against Premier Division opponents who have won 4 of their last 5.
“The Vase is an important competition to us. With the group we have and such strong depth, we have to be brave and attack all competitions that we’re able to.”
Kick off at Gang Warily is at the earlier time of 13:00.
FA Vase fixtures for Saturday 21st September
Blackfield & Langley v East Cowes Victoria
Fareham Town v Cowes Sports
Newport IW v Verwood Town
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 21st September
Harwoods Division 1
Binstead & COB v Brading Town
Cowes Sports Reserves v Bembridge
Shanklin v West Wight
Vectis v W&B Sports
Ventnor v Northwood SJ
Division 2
High Park v Oakfield
Newport Reserves v Sandown & Lake
Niton v Pan Community
Ryde Saints v Newchurch
Seaview v East Cowes Sports
Combination 1
Brading Town Reserves v W&B Sports Reserves
Northwood SJ Reserves v High Park Reserves
Osborne Coburg Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Bembridge Reserves
West Wight Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
Combination 2
Newchurch Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Oakfield Reserves v Bembridge A
Osborne Coburg A v High Park A
Vectis Reserves v West Wight A
Ventnor A v Ryde Saints Reserves.
