Wessex League football returns to both sides of the Medina today (Saturday) as Cowes Sports and East Cowes Vics host key Wessex Premier Division fixtures.
Newport are also in action in North Hampshire away to Yateley United in Wessex Division 1.
Cowes Sports return to Westwood Park looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season – a 3-0 loss away to Sherborne Town.
The Yachtsmen sit 11th in the Wessex Premier with 6 points from 3 games and now face the team immediately below – 12th-placed New Milton Town. The visitors were champions of Division 1 last season and have taken 5 points from 5 games since promotion, bringing a mix of winning momentum and new signings with experience at higher levels.
Ian Potts, Cowes Sports co-manager, says of today’s game:
“We are looking forward to Saturday. We are playing New Milton FC at home twice in the next two weeks in the league, then the FA Vase. They are a good footballing side who won Wessex Division One last year and have signed some players this summer with higher level experience.
“They have had a steady start this season and are a bit of an unknown quantity that are used to winning, but we are looking for a performance from the lads and hopefully it brings us a positive result.”
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Also in Wessex Division 1, East Cowes Vics are on home turf, hosting Christchurch at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics are 15th in the Wessex Premier with 4 points from 3 matches and head into the game after a convincing 3-1 victory over Wincanton Town. Their opponents, Christchurch, arrive with a 100% record in the league so far, having won all 3 of their opening fixtures.
Newport travel to face Yateley United in Wessex Division 1.
The County Town club sit 16th in the table with 3 points from 4 games, following last weekend’s 2-1 win over Lymington Town – their first league victory of the season. Ji Nash netted an 89th-minute winner at the Zilch Waste Stadium to get Port off the mark.
19th-placed Yateley remain winless in the league this season, with just 2 points from 6 matches.
Joe Butcher, Newport Manager, said:
“To be honest, bit of an unknown one – I’ve never been there or played them! They’re new to the league.
“They’ve not had a great start looking at the table; however, they’ve been on the wrong end of 1-goal defeats, 3 or 4 losses, and drew with Frimley midweek, so I think they should be a decent side.”
A full schedule of Harwoods-Renault Isle of Wight Saturday League matches will take place across all four divisions with with Division 2 and Combination 2 football returning this weekend.
The standout fixture in Division 1 sees leaders West Wight (3 wins from 3) host last season’s champions Whitecroft & Barton Sports, who sit 2nd with 7 points from 3 matches.
One of the key ties in Division 2 sees Pan Sports return to league football as they take on Newport Reserves in a local derby at Clatterford Recreation Ground.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 6th September
Games to kick off at 14:00 unless otherwise shown
Division 1
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Brading Town vs High Park
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Oakfield vs Osborne Coburg
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Shanklin vs Bembridge & Vectis
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Ventnor vs Northwood St Johns
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West Wight vs Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Division 2
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Binstead & COB vs Niton
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Pan Community vs Newport Reserves
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Ryde Saints vs Newchurch (13:00)
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Sandown & Lake vs East Cowes Vics Reserves (13:00)
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Seaview vs ECS
Combination 1
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Bembridge & Vectis Reserves vs Shanklin Reserves (13:30)
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East Cowes Sports Reserves vs Oakfield Reserves
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Osborne Coburg Reserves vs West Wight Reserves
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Sandown & Lake Reserves vs Brading Town Reserves (15:00)
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Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves vs Ventnor Reserves
Combination 2
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Bembridge & Vectis A vs Sandown & Lake A (15:30)
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High Park A vs Oakfield A
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Newchurch Reserves vs Ventnor A
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Ryde Saints Reserves vs West Wight A (15:30)
