In the Wessex Premier, 16th-placed Cowes Sports face a difficult home tie against 6th-placed Baffins Milton Rovers at Westwood Park later today (Saturday).
The Yachtsmen have been in poor form of late, having lost their last 3 Wessex Premier games. Last Saturday, Cowes lost 4-2 at fellow Wessex League strugglers, Portland United.
The Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier League representatives are currently 5 points above Pagham, who are in the 2nd relegation spot, but Pagham have 4 games in hand.
Cowes Sports assistant manager Andy Brown said:
“We were all disappointed with our performance vs Portland and, to be honest, looked fatigued, especially in the 2nd half, having now played 16 games in 8 weeks. Although to be fair, they also had a striker who was on form, and everything he hit was worldly, hitting the back of the net.
“Baffins are, like all teams in this league, going to be tough. Especially with them on an unbeaten run of 9 games and already in 1 cup final. This just shows the pedigree we are up against.
“On a positive note, we have also improved our form, with 3 wins in 6; however, we are obviously still in need of points to ensure we stay clear of relegation and know we are competitive with anyone on our day.
“Having not played midweek, Saturday needs to be about our focus for 90+ minutes, to demonstrate our fitness and intensity has improved (having rested), continue to deliver what we have been working on, in formation and patterns of play with finishing, plus show the crowd our fighting spirit.”
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Wessex Premier table below:
In Wessex Division 1, leaders Newport face a comparatively easy tie against 3rd-from-bottom Amesbury Town.
The County Town club have had a disastrous week, falling from 1st to 3rd after defeats to 2 clubs in the promotion places.
On Saturday, the Port went down 4-1 to 5th-placed Hamworthy Recreation. On Tuesday, the Island side lost 3-0 to 3rd-placed Petersfield Town.
Newport are now 4 points behind league leaders Andover New Street having played 1 more game. Automatic promotion appears to be an increasingly distant prospect with another playoff battle looming.
Video of the highlights of Newport’s 3-0 defeat at Petersfield Town below:
Also in Wessex Division 1, 16th-placed East Cowes Vics have the opportunity to do promotion challengers Newport a favour when they travel to North Hampshire to face leaders Andover New Street.
‘Street’ have performed poorly against Isle of Wight sides this season, losing 4-0 to Newport at Smallbrook and drawing the corresponding fixture at Beatrice Avenue 0-0.
Manager Alex Smith has said:
“Andover New Street are a great side, and full credit should go to anybody who’s taken points from them. We’ve had a great week of training and we continue to improve. It’s a tough place to go, but if we’ve learnt anything, we’ll back ourselves against the top sides in the division.
“We’re full of character and spirit, and the more time we spend together we’re combining that spirit with increased organisation and imposing our game model as effectively as possible.”
Last week Vics earned a creditable 1-1 draw against 7th-placed Fleetlands. The previous week, they beat promotion challengers Petersfield 1-0.
Vics are currently 4 points and 2 places above Amesbury, who are in the 3rd relegation spot.
Wessex Division 1 table below:
In the Isle of Wight match-of-the-day, Northwood St Johns face Whitecroft & Barton Sports at the Isle of Wight Community Club in the Island Echo Challenge Cup, with a place in the semi finals of the competition up for grabs.
The winners of the game have a home tie against Brading Town. The other semi final will see Shanklin face West Wight at the County Ground.
A full report of Northwood SJ v W&B will appear in Island Echo on Saturday evening.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 18th March
Premier Division
Cowes Sports v Baffins Milton Rovers
Division One
Andover New Street v East Cowes Vics
Newport IOW v Amesbury Town
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 18th March
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00 unless otherwise shown
Isle of Wight Challenge Cup sponsored by Island Echo
2nd Round
Northwood St Johns v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
The Isle of Wight Memorial Cup sponsored by Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist
3rd Round
Brading Town v Cowes Sports Reserves
The Ken Morris IOW Junior ‘A’ Cup Sponsored by Harwoods Renault Saturday League
3rd Round
East Cowes Vics Reserves v AFC Wootton
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1
Binstead & COB v Ryde Saints
ECS v Vectis
Pan Community v Sandown & Lake
Shanklin v Oakfield
West Wight v Bembridge
Division 2
High Park v Seaview
Niton Community v Ventnor
Osborne Coburg v Newchurch
No Fixture: Carisbrooke United, Yarmouth & Calbourne
Combination Division 1
Bembridge v ECS
Sandown & Lake v Binstead & COB
Vectis v Shanklin
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Northwood St Johns
No Fixture: Brading Town, West Wight
Combination Division 2
Ventnor v Ryde Saints
No Fixture: AFC Wootton, Bembridge ‘A’, Newchurch, Niton Community, Osborne Coburg, Pan Community
Fixtures courtesy of IOW DFA
