East Cowes Victoria – who are already certain of a playoff place – will wrap up their league campaign at home to 14th-placed Ash United at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Saturday).
Vics – mathematically – could finish their season 3rd, 4th or 5th in Wessex Division 1, with all possible positions leading to a place in this year’s playoffs.
4th-placed Victorians are 3 points behind 2nd-placed Alresford Town – who face Verwood Town in their final game. Vics have a superior goal difference to Alresford; therefore, a win would take the East Cowes side above their North Hampshire rivals – but only if Alresford are beaten at home by the bottom club.
The East Cowes side are 3 points above 5th-placed Fleetlands – with a 16-goal goal difference advantage. Fleetlands could theoretically take Vics’ 4th spot – but only if they beat 2nd-placed Frimley Green by a cricket score away from home.
In the playoff semi-finals, the 2nd-placed side play the 5th-placed side on 29th April (Tuesday) with the 3rd- and 4th- placed sides facing off on 30th April (Wednesday), with the higher placed team having home advantage.
The semi final winners then meet in the playoff final on Saturday (3rd May), again with the higher placed team in the league season having home advantage.
Newport IW FC head to 10th-paced Amesbury Town in Wiltshire for their final game of the season.
Port occupy 8th spot in Wessex Division 1, 4 points below 7th-placed Ringwood Town and 6 points above 9th -placed Cove – therefore, their league position will remain unchanged whatever the result.
Co-manager Joe Butcher says of the game:
“I think it’s been a successful season.
“We’ll just go away and enjoy this last game; some of the young lads that have been involved lately will get some good game time.”
On Newport playing their home games at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park) at the start of next season, Joe says:
“I’ve not been in any of the talks, but it makes sense to get something sorted early in the case the ground isn’t ready.
“Cowes have got a great pitch, so it’s not a bad place to play.”
Joe says of this season’s campaign:
“The target was just to better last season, in which we finished 12th.
“I’d like to get closer to being in the mix next year.”
Wessex Division 1 (top 10) below:
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 26th April
Division 1
Amesbury Town v Newport IW
East Cowes Victoria v Ash United
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 26th April
Harwoods Division 1
W&B Sports v Cowes Sports Reserves
Combination 1
Brading Town Reserves v High Park Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v West WIght Reserves
Combination 2
Vectis Reserves v Ventnor A
