Can East Cowes Vics banish the spectre of previous Boxing Day defeats against Newport at Beatrice Avenue?
The East Cowes side have never finished above Newport in the Wessex League. The last time Vics beat Newport in a league fixture was back in the 1987/88 season when they won 1-0. However, Vics overcame Port in a Gold Cup semi-final back in 2008.
Last season, Vics went down to a 0-2 Boxing Day defeat at Beatrice Avenue courtesy of a Joe Craig brace. The East Cowes then went on to all but end Port’s hopes of automatic promotion by holding the County Town club to a 1-1 draw at Smallbrook Stadium.
Vics have been in good form this season and are currently 6th in the Division 1 table, 3 points below Cove in the 4th playoff place. Newport are currently 17th – 2 places above the drop zone.
Regarding current form, Vics are on a run of 3 successive victories. Newport are in the unfortunate position of not having played since 25th November when they went down 2-1 to Totton & Eling.
Vics manager Alex Smith is not anticipating an easy win… Alex said:
“It’s certainly not my job to decide who should be named as favourites. The Newport team is composed of some of the Island’s very best players, who represented the Island so well at the Island Games earlier this year.
It’ll be a great occasion and a very competitive game, in which both teams believe they can win.
Article continues below this advertisement “Both clubs have their own rich histories and I currently have the honour of trying to write history for Vics.”
Alex paid tribute to Newport manager Steve Brougham, saying:
“There’s no doubt that Steve has done an outstanding job at Newport this season, retaining several key players and building a good squad amidst the off-pitch disturbances and the lack of stability that homelessness brings.”
Kick off for the Boxing Day game at Beatrice Avenue is at the earlier time of 11:00.
In the Wessex Premier, 6th-placed Cowes Sports take on 14th-placed Fareham at Westwood Park today (Saturday).
The Yachtsmen are currently on a run of 5 successive victories and lie 4 points behind Brockenhurst in the 4th playoff spot but have 2 games in hand.
Manager Max Draper is hoping for a bumper crowd in what is the only competitive football game on the Isle of Wight this Saturday.
Manager Max says:
“We go into Saturday full of confidence after a good run of form. However, we know Fareham are a well-drilled and physical side, who always seem to put a show on at Westwood.
“They’ve shown they can compete against some good sides and play front-foot football, so it should be a good game at Westwood.
“We would just like to wish all our supporters a Merry Christmas and thank them for their fantastic support through some hard times and some better times more recently. “Fingers crossed they will continue to see some positive days going forward.”
