Forget about the Netherlands v the United States in the World Cup, there are plenty of Hampshire Cup, Isle of Wight League and Wessex League matches to be played here on the Island this Saturday.
9 Isle of Wight teams have reached the 3rd round of the Hampshire Cups. Unfortunately, only 2 – Sandown & Lake and Vectis – have been drawn at home in the Hampshire Trophy. Shanklin and Brading Town travel to the mainland in the same competition. All 5 Isle of Wight representatives in the Hampshire Vase – Ventnor, Carisbrooke United, Shanklin Reserves, Brading Town Reserves and High Park – play on the other side of the Solent.
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen – who are on an 8-game winless run – travel to Salisbury to face 3rd-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
Assistant manager Andy Brown says of the fixture:
“Bemerton are in great form in the league, both pushing for promotion and scoring goals for fun! So it’s going to be yet another tough game for us and shortly followed by Porchester, who are also on fire!
“We were all very disappointed with our last performance and looked tired having worked hard to pick up a couple of decent results vs Shaftesbury and Hamble. We are obviously the underdogs; however, will give our best, and behind the scenes, everyone is working hard to improve.
“Although we lost Conor White to an injury Saturday, we are hopefully welcoming back a few players over the coming weeks. This will add strength in depth, which is much needed with fixtures coming thick and fast!”
Bemerton manager Shaun Hale – who was born and brought up on the Isle of Wight – has said:
“We will approach this game the same as we have any other. We will be looking to win it; however, there are fine margins for errors in this league, and I am well aware that if we are not at our very best every single week then anyone can beat anyone.
“We haven’t had Cowes watched this season, but I have lots of contacts on the island that I speak to, so I’m well aware of the threats that Cowes will pose. Cowes have had impressive results recently with draws at Shaftesbury and another with Hamble, so we will expect a highly competitive game.”
In Wessex Division 1, Newport welcome 8th-placed Hamworthy Recreation to Smallbrook.
After being held to a 0-0 draw away to Amesbury last weekend, Port will be looking to bounce back and pick up maximum points. However, in-form Hamworthy will not make it easy for the Island side. The Dorset side have been picking up points this month, including a 5-0 victory over Andover Town last weekend.
Also in Division 1, 3rd-from-bottom East Cowes Vics travel to Gosport to play 9th-placed Wessex League newcomers Fleetlands. The game will challenging for Vics as Fleetlands have won 6 of their 7 home games in the season to date.
Wessex League fixtures for 3rd December
Premier Division
Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Cowes Sports
Division One
Fleetlands v East Cowes Victoria (12:45)
Newport (IoW) v Hamworthy Recreation
Harwoods Renault Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 3rd December
Hampshire FA Trophy – 3rd Round
Bournemouth Sports v Brading Town
Sandown & Lake v Yateley United First (Fixture being played at St Helens)
Vectis v Locks Heath
Warsash Wasps Sports v Shanklin
Hampshire FA Vase – 3rd Round
AFC Eagles v Ventnor
Bishops Waltham Dynamos v Carisbrooke United
CK Andover v Shanklin Reserves
Hamble United v Brading Town Reserves
Mudeford Mens v High Park
Isle of Wight Memorial Cup – 1st Round
AFC Wootton v Osborne Coburg
Harwoods Renault Division 1
Bembridge v Binstead & COB
Cowes Sports Reserves v ECS
Oakfield v West Wight
No Fixture: Ryde Saints
Harwoods Renault Division 2
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Niton Community
Newchurch v Yarmouth & Calbourne
No Fixture: Seaview
Harwoods Renault Combination 1
Bembridge v Northwood St Johns
ECS v Sandown & Lake
West Wight v Oakfield
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Binstead & COB
No Fixture: Vectis
Harwoods Renault Combination 2
Niton Community v Ryde Saints
Osborne Coburg v Bembridge ‘A’
Ventnor v AFC Wootton
No Fixture: Newchurch & Pan Community
