East Cowes Victoria take on bottom-of-the-table Verwood Town at Beatrice Avenue in the only Wessex League game on the Isle of Wight this afternoon (Saturday).
Vics are currently in 4th place, 11 points above their closest challengers for a playoff position – 7th-placed Ringwood Town. Verwood Town appear destined for relegation – 11 points adrift of 17th-placed Ash United.
Only the top club in Wessex Division 1 – currently New Milton Town – are automatically promoted. Teams from 2nd to 5th qualify for the play offs. However, 5th-placed Hamworthy United are not eligible for promotion.
The Victorians’ chances of hitting top spot in their division have all but disappeared with a 16-point gap between the East Cowes club and New Milton Town.
Wessex Division 1 top 8 below:
Also in Wessex Division 1, Newport IW travel to league leaders New Milton Town.
Victory for Port could see the County Town club return to the play off places if other results go their way.
Co-manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s chances:
“It’s probably the toughest game around in Wessex Division 1 at the moment, and we have still got a lot of injuries and availability issues. We want to try and win every game, so that’s what we’ll aim to do.
“But to be honest, it’s a free hit for us. The pressure is on them with Frimley and Alresford chasing them down.
In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed Cowes Sports travel to 6th-placed Andover New Street.
The Yachtsmen are currently just 1 point and 2 places below the top half of their division.
Cowes co-manager Ian Potts says of the game:
“Andover New Street FC are a very good, strong footballing side, who are chasing a play off place for promotion and are in the semi finals of the FA Vase, which is a massive achievement
“We as a club have come so far in the last 5 months since Mark and myself have taken over. On our day, the team can match anyone in this league now – technically and physically.
“As usual, we will go with a game plan and hope to put in a decent performance and get a result. The lads have done brilliantly over the last month playing twice a week and getting some brilliant results and putting us in a healthy league position – we just keep working hard and pushing forward.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 15th March
Wessex Premier
Andover New Street v Cowes Sports
Wessex Division 1
East Cowes Victoria v Verwood Town
New Milton Town v Newport IW
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 15th March
Harwoods Division 1
Binstead & COB v Shanklin
Cowes Sports Reserves v Brading Town
Ventnor v Vectis
West Wight v W&B Sports
Division 2
Newport Reserves v Newchurch
Oakfield v East Cowes Sports
Sandown & Lake v Niton Community
Combination 1
Brading Town Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
Northwood SJ Reserves v Ventnor Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v West Wight Reserves
W&B Sports Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
Combination 2
Osborne Coburg A v West Wight A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Ventnor A
Sandown & Lake A v High Park A
Vectis Reserves v Oakfield Reserves
