The Yachtsmen kick off their Wessex Premiership campaign in Wiltshire this Saturday with a visit to Bonnymead Park, home of Amesbury Town Football Club – with kick-off at the earlier time of 14:00.
The Yachtsmen should feel confident of taking points from the Wiltshire team. When the 2020/2021 season was declared null and void, Amesbury Town was rock bottom of the Wessex League Premier Division, having won none, drawn 1, and lost 11 of the 12 league games played up to that point. Cowes finished last season’s voided campaign in 17th place in the Wessex Premiership.
Saturday’s game should be an excellent indicator as to whether the Yachtsmen can escape the relegation quagmire this season as manager, Max Draper, hopes. The Isle of Wight’s highest-ranked club has had mixed fortunes in their pre-season campaign, beating Southern League, Winchester City 1-0, then losing 1-4 against Wessex League 1 Bemerton, before scraping past local rivals, East Cowes Vics, 2-1 last Saturday.
Newport IW plays a further pre-season friendly on Saturday at Hampshire League Paulsgrove. Kick off is at 15:00. The Port’s Wessex League 1 campaign begins on 7th August with a home tie against Romsey Town at Smallbrook stadfium. East Cowes Vics begin their Wessex League 1 campaign on 7th August with a home tie against Infinity.
Fixtures for Saturday, 11th July:
Wessex Premier: Amesbury Town v Cowes Sports (14:00)
Friendly fixture: Paulsgrove v Newport IW (15:00)
Friendly fixtures involving Island League Clubs: High Park v Ryde Saints Reserves (14:00); Pan Community v Newchurch (13:00); Pan Community Res v Newchurch Res (15:30); East Cowes Vics Reserves v AFC Wootton (14:30); Yarmouth & Calbourne 1st v Yarmouth & Calbourne Res (14:00); Oakfield v Sandown & Lake United (13:30); Shanklin v Vectis (14:00); Shanklin Res v Niton Community (4.00pm); Ryde Saints v East Cowes Sports 14:00); Bembridge v Whitecroft & Barton Sports (14:00); Ventnor Reserves v Brading Town Reserves (14:30).
Fixtures courtesy of the Isle of Wight DFA.
