UPDATE: 10:45 The game between Cowes Sports and Hythe & Dibden is ON 
In the Wessex Premier, mid-table Cowes Sports will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s FA Vase defeat to Brixham AFC when they entertain 17th-placed Hythe & Dibden at Westwood Park today (Saturday). Manager Max Draper says of the game:
“Nothing’s easy in the league we play. Any team can beat another, so we have to be at our best in what is sure to be challenging conditions. “It was tight last time we played them, but we are 8 weeks down the line, so we will see if we have progressed since then. “We will be looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing exit from the cup to Brixham and hoping we can put 3 points on the board before a tough trip to Alresford – who have made a good start to their season – on Tuesday in the cup. “We welcome back George Colson and Joe Hancott but lose Jimmy Mumford and Scott Barron, who are unavailable with a holiday and injury respectively.”
In Wessex Division 1 …
UPDATE: 10:45 The game between Millbrook and East Cowes Vics is OFF 
9th-placed East Cowes Vics travel to Southampton to face 5th-placed Millbrook. Vics are currently 8 points below the Dockers, who lie in the 4th play off position. However, the East Cowes side have 2 games in hand on their Southampton-based rivals. Manager Alex Smith says of his side’s prospects:
“Millbrook will be a very tough test for us. In our win against them early in the season, there were periods of the game when they were on top; we managed it well and came through with the required quality to win the game. We’ll take confidence from the fact we know we have the quality in the side to win the game.”
When asked whether a play off place was a realistic prospect for Vics this season, Alex replied:
“It’s a very competitive league this season; Hamworthy Recreation are obviously leading the way, but Downton have stuck with them. After that, there are a number of clubs with playoffs in their sights – perhaps as many as seven or eight. “If we can put an outstanding run together, then who knows. But we’d have to punch well above our weight and improve our consistency notably.”
Alex made the following comments about his side’s 7-0 defeat against Southern League AFC Totton in the Hampshire Senior Cup:
“It was a great experience for us. For them to put out such a strong side is credit to the seriousness with which they approached the tie. “Obviously, I’m very disappointed with the way that we defended our box early in the first half and conceded such a number of goals in such a similar fashion, but it was always a realistic possibility. We responded outstandingly in the second half, with the only goal coming very early through a silly mistake. After that, we grew into the game and were far more competitive. “There were a number specific things which we took on board from playing against players of that quality, and it will be of great benefit to us in the coming weeks.
UPDATE: 11:00 Newport IW v New Milton Town is ON UPDATE: 11:30 Following a further pitch inspection, Newport IW v New Milton Town is now OFF Also in Wessex Division 1, 17th-placed Newport have a home game against bottom club New Milton Town at Beatrice Avenue. The Port will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s home win against Ringwood to advance to a midtable position.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 18th November
Wessex Premier Cowes Sports v Hythe & Dibden ON Wessex Division 1 Newport IW v New Milton Town OFF Millbrook v East Cowes Vics OFF
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 18th November
Hants Saturday Trophy 2nd round US Portsmouth Reserves v Brading Town ON Shanklin v Cowes Sports Reserves OFF West Wight v Fleet Spurs OFF Moneyfields Reserves v Bembridge OFF Hants Saturday Vase 2nd round Wyvern Youth Sharks v Wootton Sandown & Lake Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves OFF Harwoods Division 1 ECS v Binstead & Cob ON Combination 1 Bembridge Reserves v West Wight Reserves OFF Binstead & Cob Reserves v Northwood St Johns Reserves OFF Whitecroft & Barton Reserves v Shanklin Reserves OFF Combination 2 West Wight A v Ryde Saints Reserves OPF
Women’s football fixtures for Sunday 19th November
Hants Women’s Trophy 2nd round Shanklin Ladies v Petersfield Town Juniors US Portsmouth Women v Wight Eagles
