East Cowes Vics and Cowes Sports will be playing on opposite banks of the River Medina today (Saturday), while Newport have a trip to the New Forest – weather permitting.
At the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park), 15th-placed Cowes Sports face 10th-placed Christchurch.
The Yachtsmen have been on a winless run of 5 games since beating Wincanton Town in Somerset on 11th October; Christchurch lost their last competitive fixture 0-1 against Hampshire League Locks Heath – 2 divisions below in the non-league pyramid – in the Southampton & District Cup.
Cowes had their last game – a midweek Wessex League Cup tie at Laverstock & Ford – abandoned due to a torrential downpour.
Co-manager Ian Potts said of the game’s abandonment:
“We were disappointed it was postponed because of the wasted time travelling, and it’s another game we got to play. But you cannot do anything about the weather, and it was the right decision by the referee.”
On the Yachtsmen’s prospects against Christchurch, Ian says:
“The Christchurch game is one we are looking forward to. They are a unknown quantity. After last weeks draw (2-2 away to Bournemouth Poppies), we are hoping to carry on the good performance we put in and will try to turn that into 3 points.”
Also in the Wessex Premier, 13th-placed East Cowes Victoria take on 3rd-placed Hamworthy Recreation at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics’ momentum slowed down last Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw at Bournemouth Poppies after a run of 3 successive league wins; Hamworthy’s last game saw them beaten 2-5 in the Dorset Senior Cup by Southern League Wimborne Town.
In Wessex Division 1, 6th-placed Newport travel to face 9th-placed Ringwood Town.
This game is OFF.
Port have an excellent home record with 7 wins and a draw in 8 games; Ringwood Town have a poor home record with 6 defeats in 10 games. 3 points could see Newport return to the playoff places.
Manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s prospects:
“Ringwood have always been a hard team to play. On their day they can beat anyone and have dangerous players, and they’re the only team we haven’t beaten at home so far this season.
“We have a fair few unavailable including myself, Harri Catania, Harry Taylor, Keelan Walsh and also Henry West, so it won’t be easy.”
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 15th November
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge & Vectis v Oakfield
Osborne Coburg v Cowes Sports Reserves
Shanklin v W&B
Ventnor v Brading Town
West Wight v Northwood SJ
Division 2
Binstead & COB v Seaview
ECS v Newport Reserves
Niton v East Cowes Victoria Reserves
Pan Community v Newchurch
Sandown & Lake v Ryde Saints
Combination 1
High Park Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis Reserves
Oakfield Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v West Wight Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
W&B Reserves v ECS Reserves
Combination 2
High Park A v Ventnor A
Newchurch Reserves v Sandown & Lake A
Oakfield A v Binstead & COB Reserves
Ryde Saints Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis A
