2 Harwoods Division 1 sides – West Wight and Whitecroft & Barton Sports – will be looking to book a place in the quarter finals of the Hampshire Trophy this afternoon (Saturday).
West Wight have a home tie against Hampshire Premier Locks Heath at Camp Road, whilst Division 1 leaders W&B travel to Hook, who also ply their trade in the Hampshire Premier.
There are 3 3rd round Hampshire Trophy fixtures, with Brading Town hosting Harvest and Vectis travelling to Stockbridge (both opponents also playing in the Hampshire Premier). Bembridge face Tadley Calleva Reserves from the Thames Valley Premier League.
There is 1 all-Island tie in the 4th round of the Hampshire Vase, with Sandown & Lake Reserves facing Brading Town Reserves. Oakfield Reserves play AFC Solent from the Southampton Saturday League at Slade Road.
In the Wessex Premier, 11th-placed Cowes Sports will be attempting to maintain their recent good form when they take on 8th-placed Millbrook at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park).
The Yachtsmen are unbeaten in 3 games since losing 8-0 to Hamworthy Recreation at the end of November. Cowes Sports narrowly lost the corresponding fixture in Southampton 3-2.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of his side’s prospects:
“We are looking forward to getting the game on and hopefully carry on the momentum we have built up in the previous games with a good performance and result.
“The last time we played Millbrook, there was not much between the teams, and I believe a draw would of been a fair result, but that’s football. We go into the game in a positive way.”
In Wessex Division 1, 4th-placed East Cowes Victoria face 18th-placed Fawley at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics are currently on a run of 3 successive wins, which has seen the East Cowes side return to the playoff positions.
The Victorians have the best defensive record in their division and have 3 games in hand on leaders New Milton.
Vics manager Alex Smith says of his team’s prospects:
“We had a very tough game away at Fawley earlier in the season, having to come from a goal behind to earn the points. They’re a very resilient team and can be tough to break down.
“They had an excellent result last week against Romsey. We’re building momentum in the league and will hope to keep that rolling through the Fawley game.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 8th-placed Newport travel to 5th-placed Hamworthy United.
A win for Port would see the County Town club go within a point of the playoff places. Newport have only been beaten once in their last 15 games (against East Cowes Victoria on Boxing Day).
Last Saturday, East Cowes Victoria took all 3 points from their visit to Hamworthy United. Can Newport match the performance of their local rivals?
Co-manager Joe Butcher says:
“It’s a tough game to be fair. I’ve watched some clips of their game last week against Vics – they look a good side, obviously gave up a few late goals.
“We’ll always be looking to go away and get a positive result whoever we play. We never want to draw, it’s just how it seems to have turned out in a lot of games this year. A point away at Hamworthy wouldn’t be the worst result though.
“We’ll be looking for a reaction from 2 disappointing results. We never really got going last week until we went down to 10 men and had 10 mins to go.”
Wessex Division 1 table (top 8) below:
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 11th January
Wessex Premier
Cowes Sports v Millbrook
Division 1
East Cowes Victoria v Fawley
Hamworthy United v Newport IW
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 11th January
Hampshire Trophy
Brading Town v Harvest
Hook v W&B Sports
Stockbridge v Vectis
Tadley Calleva Reserves v Bembridge
West Wight v Locks Heath
Hampshire Vase
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Oakfield Reserves v AFC Solent
Memorial Cup
Newchurch v East Cowes Sports
Harwoods Division 1
Northwood SJ v Cowes Sports Reserves
Ventnor v Osborne Coburg
Division 2
High Park v Ryde Saints
Niton Community v Sandown & Lake
Pan Community v Oakfield
Seaview v Newport Reserves
Combination 1
Osborne Coburg Reserves v West Wight Reserves
W&B Sports Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge A v Ryde Saints Reserves
Osborne Coburg A v Ventnor A
Vectis Reserves v High Park A
West Wight A v Niton Community Reserves
