8th-placed Newport IW will take on 17th-placed Folland Sports at Beatrice Avenue in the only Wessex League fixture today (Saturday).
Defeat in the Boxing Day derby against local rivals East Cowes Vics saw Port drop out of the playoff places and ended their long 13-game unbeaten run.
Can the County Town club bounce back from defeat on 26th December?
Co-manager Joe Butcher says:
“We will just focus on each game as it comes. The goal at the start of the season was just to improve on last year; we are 17 points off last years season target.
“Once we hit that goal, we will reassess what we think is possible. The lads have done really well in the first half of the season and hopefully that continues.
“I don’t think it’s a comparatively easy game; you have to turn up to every game in this league with the right desire and attitude. Follands are in a relegation battle, so every game is important for them.
“Realistically, we will know over the next 8 games or so whether playoffs are a possibility.
Article continues below this advertisement “I am optimistic but you should only focus on one game at a time and certainly never look at any game as an ‘easy’ win.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 5th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to the side immediately above them in the table: Hamworthy United.
Vics have returned to good form of late with 2 successive wins since losing to promotion rivals Fleetlands in mid-December.
Hamworthy United have shown inconsistent form, losing 3-1 to 2nd-from-bottom Verwood Town last Saturday.
Wessex Division 1 table below:
In the Wessex Premier, 11th-placed Cowes Sports travel to North Hampshire to face 4th-placed Andover New Street.
Cowes Sports v Andover New Street is OFF (frozen pitch).
The Yachtsmen are unbeaten in 3 games since their thumping 8-0 defeat at the hands of Hamworthy Recreation at the end of November.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of his side’s chances:
“We were really pleased how the lads played and controlled the game last Saturday against Hythe in bad conditions and on a poor pitch. It was a solid performance and a good result.
“Moving on to this Saturday and Andover New Street FC – they are a very good footballing team, with some very experienced players that have played higher level. They are chasing promotion and are still in the FA Vase which is some achievement.
“We go into the game on the back of getting 7 points out of a possible 9 over the festive period, so hopefully we can carry on our form. The squad are together and confidence is good, so here’s hoping for a positive performance and result.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 4th January
Wessex Premier
Andover New Street v Cowes Sports OFF
Wessex Division 1
Hamworthy United v East Cowes Victoria
Newport IW v Folland Sports
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 4th January
HFA Vase
Emsworth Town v Sandown & Lake
Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup
W&B Sports v Ventnor
Memorial Cup
Binstead & COB v West Wight
High Park v Shanklin
Northwood SJ v Bembridge
Junior A
Oakfield v Newchurch
Harwoods Division 1
Osborne Coburg v Cowes Sports Reserves
Division 2
East Cowes Sports v Ryde Saints
Niton Community v Sandown & Lake
Pan Community v Newport Reserves
Combination 1
High Park Reserves v Bembridge Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v W&B Sports Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
West Wight Reserves v Northwood SJ Reserves
Combination 2
Osborne Coburg A v Oakfield Reserves
Ryde Saints Reserves v High Park A
