In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed Cowes Sports face 5th-placed Brockenhurst at Westwood Park today (Saturday). Only 7 points separate the Yachtsmen from the Badgers, who sit in the 4th playoff position. Cowes have 2 games in hand over their New Forest opponents. Is it still possible for the Westwood Park side to catch the teams in the playoff positions? Manager Max Draper says:
“We will just take one game at a time, Saturday is our priority. We aren’t looking any further ahead than the next game.” “It will be good game against a good side who are sitting pretty in the table. We will aim to get going after an unscheduled 12 day break which is always difficult.”
The corresponding fixture in the New Forest finished 2-2 back in August.
In Wessex Division 1, 11th-placed East Cowes Vics welcome 2nd-from-bottom Andover Town to Beatrice Avenue. The East Cowes Vics squad is likely to include Jez Conway, who has recently signed from Cowes Sports, and Harrison Taylor, returning from a short spell with Newport. The corresponding fixture in North Hampshire finished 1-8 to Vics. However, manager Alex Smith does not see Saturday’s game as a comfortable walkover for Vics, saying:
“Unfortunately, we’ve learnt first hand that there aren’t any straightforward games in this league. Andover have won two of their last three league games which is better form than us. “It’ll be a tough, tough game, and nothing will be given to us unless we earn it. “Harri Taylor and Jez Conway add plenty of quality, and we’re all excited to have them both in the squad. They’ll both have a big impact on how the rest of the season looks for us. “We’ll unfortunately be without a Liam Newbold, who’s struggling with a niggle, and Toby Snow, who is suspended. Sam Kirby has been called into the squad after a string of good performances for the development team, and he contributes to a very strong bench for Saturday.
On Vics’ midweek defeat to Millbrook, Alex said:
“The Millbrook game, on one hand, was a disappointing night and a sub par performance. On the other, we conceded from an unfortunate own goal, a fluked cross, and the third when we were down to ten men and chasing the game. So, whilst I am disappointed with the performance, it was the worst surface we’ve played on this season by some margin, and it’s tough place to go – things don’t always go in your favour on evenings like that. “We’ve dusted ourselves off, trained well on Thursday and will be fully prepared to bounce back against Andover Town.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 17th-placed Newport travel to North Island to take on 7th-placed Romsey Town.
7 Isle of Wight Teams will be competing in the Hampshire cups today. There are 2 local derbies in the Hampshire Trophy: Bembridge take on Northwood St Johns at Steyne Park and Ventnor face W&B at Watcombe Bottom. In the other Hants Trophy game, West Wight play Hampshire Premier League Bishop Waltham Dynamos at Camp Road. In the Hampshire Vase, Osborne Coburg have their 2nd round tie to complete against North Warnborough at Victoria Rec; Sandown & Lake play Basing United at the Fairway Sports Complex.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 2nd December
Premier Division: Cowes Sports v Brockenhurst Division 1: East Cowes Vics v Andover Town Romsey Town v Newport IoW
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday, 2nd December
Hampshire Trophy: Bembridge v Northwood St Johns Ventnor v W&B Sports West Wight v Bishops Waltham Dynamos Hampshire Vase: Osborne Coburg v North Warnborough OFF Sandown & Lake v AFC Basing United IOW Memorial Cup: Niton Community v AFC Wootton OFF Harwoods Division 1: Brading Town v Binstead & COB High Park v Vectis Shanklin v East Cowes Sports Division 2: Newport Reserves v Seaview Ryde Saints v Newchurch Combination 1: Binstead & COB Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves East Cowes Sports Reserves v Bembridge Reserves Northwood SJ Reserves v West Wight Reserves W&B Sports Reserves v Brading Town Reserves Combination 2: Newchurch Reserves v High Park Reserves OFF Seaview Reserves v Ventnor A West Wight A v Ryde Saints Reserves Fixtures supplied courtesy of IOW DFA
