UPDATE: Both Wessex League games due to be played this afternoon (Saturday) – Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst and East Cowes Vics v Andover New Street – have been called off after pitch inspections.
As of 10:30 today only the following fixtures in the Island League are still ON: Hedge End Town v Ryde Saints, Winsor Green v AFC Wootton, Adgestone v Horndean United, East Cowes Sports v Ventnor
Isle of Wight football fans have the choice between 2 Wessex League football fixtures this Saturday (8th January) on opposite sides of the Medina.
In the Wessex Premier, 16th-placed Cowes Sports play 4th-placed Brockenhurst at Westwood Park. This will be a very difficult tie for the Yachtsmen, who are on a miserable run of 6 successive defeats and playing against a side who won the corresponding fixture 3-0 back in August. However, a much-improved performance against Shaftesbury last Saturday suggests Cowes may be hopeful of gaining their1st win in 2022.
Assistant manager Alex Smith said:
“Last Saturday (0-1 v Shaftesbury) was a far more promising performance in terms of our character.
“It was obviously disappointing to concede so early and cheaply but the boys responded well.
“To get a result this Saturday, we’ll need to combine that regained teamship with the game model which we implemented so well earlier in the season.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’ve learnt not to look at past results too much in this league, especially at this time of year and with the world the way it is – you never know what kind of squad has played for who.
“We’re hoping for a couple of key players to return over the coming weeks which will give us a boost.”
In Wessex League 1, 17th-placed Vics, who stand 1 place above the drop zone, face 5th-placed Andover New Street at Beatrice Avenue. Vics lost 5-0 in the corresponding fixture in September.
Street have already played twice on the Island this season, beating Cowes Sports 3-4 in the Wessex League Cup, but losing 2-1 against Newport at Smallbrook.
Vics manager Richard Woodburn said:
“It’s a tough one for us. They are certainly one of the best sides we faced in the first half of our season – in my opinion – and on the back of our worst run of form this season: 5 straight defeats.
“The odds are certainly stacked against us, but there are no gimmies in this league, and after the events of last week I know the lads are already up for the challenge and looking forward to the game.”
Meanwhile, 4th-placed Newport have had their away tie against Wiltshire-based side Laverstock & Ford mysteriously postponed. The Port have not played a game since 18th December when they beat Petersfield Town 2-1 at Smallbrook.
No reason has been given for the fixture not going ahead.
Newport Football Club said (via their Facebook page):
“Although the postponement affects Newport FC, we are led to believe the cause does not relate to us.
“Quite simply, whichever team was due to play Laverstock and Ford this Saturday, would not have a game.”
The Wessex League stated:
“Saturday’s game (8 January) between Laverstock & Ford and Newport IOW has been postponed. This is due to admin issues within the host club that are being actively worked on to resolve.”
When contacted by Island Echo, Laverstock & Ford were unable to provide any reason for the postponement of the game.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 8th January 2022
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 15.00
Premier Division: Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst
Division One: East Cowes Vics v Andover New Street
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 8th January 2022
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14.00 unless otherwise shown
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy 3rd Round:
Ryde Saints First v Hedge End Town First to be played at Southampton due to unfit Smallbrook pitch
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy 4th Round:
Warsash Wasps Sports & Football Club Men v Shanklin First
Whitecroft & Barton Sports First v Hook First
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase 4th Round:
Pan Community First v AFC Burton
Shanklin Reserves v St Francis Men First
Winsor United Green v AFC Wootton First
Hampshire FA Saturday Plate 2nd Round:
Adgestone First v Horndean United First
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League
Division 1: Binstead & COB v Cowes Sports Reserves; Oakfield v Northwood St Johns; Sandown & Lake v Vectis; No Fixture: Niton Community & West Wight
Division 2: East Cowes Sports v Ventnor; Newchurch v High Park; Osborne Coburg v Newport Reserves; Seaview v Carisbrooke United; No Fixture: East Cowes Vics Reserves & Wroxall & Yarmouth & Calbourne
Combination Division 1: Northwood St Johns v Oakfield; Ryde Saints v Brading Town; West Wight v Sandown & Lake
Combination Division 2: Carisbrooke United v Newchurch; Vectis v East Cowes Sports; Ventnor v AFC Wootton; Yarmouth & Calbourne v Bembridge ‘A’; No Fixture: Niton Community & Pan Community
Postponed fixtures:
HFA Saturday Trophy – 4th Round:
Bembridge First v Meon Milton First to be played Saturday 15th January
Brading Town v Bishops Waltham Dynamos SC First to be played Saturday 15th January
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2: Osborne Coburg v Newport Reserves
Combination Division 1: Bembridge v Binstead & COB; Osborne Coburg v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Information on football fixtures and postponements is correct as of 09:00, Friday, 7th January 2022
Island fixtures courtesy of the Isle of Wight DFA
Wessex League results and match reports to appear in Island Echo on Sunday, 9th January with a round-up of the news and results of Island League clubs to appear on Monday, 10th January.
