UPDATE: All Wessex League games featuring Isle of Wight clubs on Saturday 17th December have been postponed due to frozen pitches.
All Isle of Wight Division 1 games have also been called off for the same reason.
New Vics manager Alex Smith faces a baptism of fire in North Hampshire as the East Cowes side travel to face 6th-placed Andover Town in Wessex Division 1 today (Saturday 17th December).
3rd-from-bottom Vics have been decimated by suspensions over recent weeks, with goalkeeper Alex Ram, captain Liam Newbold, and defenders Keelan Walsh and Harrison Berry all ineligible to play.
Vics have also lost 1 of their most highly rated senior players – Jordan Chapman – who has signed for Newport.
However, Alex has managed to strengthen his squad by signing Tyler Greenslade (Vectis), Macauley Watterson (Shanklin), Billy Backshall (Cowes Sports), Lewis Parsons from Gosport U16s, and former Cowes Sports players Thomas Ashley, Ben Holdsworth and Fraser Law.
Vics’ biggest signing is Callum Chase from Pagham. Callum comes with a wealth of Wessex league experience, having formerly played for Newport and Cowes Sports.
Alex Smith is also seeking to strengthen his backroom staff and says he is seeking: “someone committed, passionate and positive”.
The new Vics manager – who will be hoping his side can secure only their 2nd win of the 2022/23 season – says:
“Since coming in last week I’ve been delighted with the attitude of the players, huge turnouts at training and players making the effort to buy into our new game model. It’ll take us a little while to get to where we’d like to be, but I’ve been lucky to inherit a passionate group that love the club and will strive to improve.
“Ryan Lacey has been superb in helping me settle in, and we’re confident in putting in a positive performance on Saturday.
“We fully anticipate Andover being a tricky place to go – they’re unbeaten at home in the league but boosted by a couple of signings. We’ll be looking to cause them some issues and fight for an upset.”
The corresponding fixture against Andover Town at Beatrice Avenue in September ended as a 1-1 draw.
Also in Wessex Division 1, 4th-placed Newport face 17th-placed Ash at Smallbrook. Kick-off is at 15:00.
The Port will be bolstered by new signing midfielder Jordan Chapman, who has joined the County Town Club from Vics after making 150 appearances for the East Cowes side.
The Port won 3-4 at Ash in the opening game of the 2022/23 season back in August.
In the Wessex Premier, 17th-placed Cowes Sports travel to North Hampshire to face bottom side Alresford Town.
The Yachtsmen are currently on a 9-game winless run. However, their opponents have yet to chalk up a single home victory in the season to date.
Assistant manager Andy Brown says:
“It’s the last game of 2022 for us, and we all want to end it on a high. Obviously, we need to beat the teams around us, and Alresford are one of those.
“Alresford are also an unknown entity, currently going through a transition period. We beat them earlier in the season, and the lads will be working hard to put the double over them.
“Another solid team performance is on the agenda – to win and gain the much-needed three points; however, as always, this must be earned.”
The corresponding fixture at Westwood Park in August saw the Yachtmen win 2-1.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 17th December
Premier Division
Alresford Town v Cowes Sports OFF
Division 1
Andover Town v East Cowes Victoria OFF
Newport (IoW) v Ash United OFF
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 17th December
Hampshire FA Trophy – 3rd Round
Northwood St Johns v Blackfield & Langley Reserves ON
Sandown & Lake v Yateley United ON
Hampshire FA Vase – 3rd Round
Meon Milton Reserves v Oakfield Reserves
Northwood St Johns Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves @ Pell Lane
Harwoods Renault Division 1
Brading Town v Binstead & COB OFF
Pan Community v Bembridge OFF
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v West Wight OFF
No Fixture: Cowes Sports Reserves, ECS, Ryde Saints, Vectis
Harwoods Renault Division 2
AFC Wootton v Yarmouth & Calbourne
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Ventnor OFF
High Park v Niton Community
Newchurch v Seaview
Osborne Coburg v Carisbrooke United ON
Harwoods Renault Combination Division 1
ECS v Brading Town ON
Shanklin v Whitecroft & Barton Sports ON
Vectis v Sandown & Lake ON
West Wight v Binstead & COB
No Fixture: Bembridge
Harwoods Renault Combination Division 2
Bembridge ‘A’ v Osborne Coburg
Niton Community v AFC Wootton ON
Ventnor v Pan Community OFF
No Fixture: Newchurch
All games currently ON …
Northwood SJ v Blackfield HFA Trophy
Sandown & Lake v Yateley HFA Trophy
Osborne Coburg v Carisbrooke Utd Div 2
ECS v Brading Town Comb 1
Shanklin v Whitecroft & Barton Comb 1
Vectis v Sandown & Lake Comb 1
Niton Community v AFC Wootton Comb 2
