In the only Wessex League action on the Isle of Wight today (Saturday), in Division 1, Newport take on Whitchurch United at the Zilch Waste Stadium – weather permitting.
10th-placed Port have been in excellent form of late with 4 successive wins over Blackfield & Langley, Amesbury Town, Hamworthy United and United Services Portsmouth. The County Town club are now only 3 points off the playoff places.
3rd-placed Whitchurch United may well prove to be difficult opponents however, as they are on a run of 3 league victories themselves.
On the likelihood of the game going ahead, Port manager Joe Butcher believes there to be “a good chance”. On his side’s prospects against the Jam Boys, Joe says:
“It’s obviously a very difficult game. They’ve been in the top 2 or 3 virtually all season, but if we can get a win that would be big for us. It’s not easy to stay up there all season, especially undefeated like they started, nor realistic to expect that would continue all season either. They are still third in the form table same as us, 4 wins 1 draw 1 loss in their last 6.”
Joe is cautious about his side reaching the playoff positions, saying:
“The league is a bit false with everyone having played so many different numbers of games. We’re in a great spot but equally have a lot of games left to play, so we will see.”
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The pitch has passed an early morning inspection at the Zilch Waste Stadium and the game is on!
UPDATE 09:00 Hamworthy Recreation v East Cowes Victoria is OFF
In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed East Cowes Victoria – who have been without a game since 17th January – travel to 10th-placed Hamworthy Recreation.
Like Vics, Hamworthy have also been without a game for 4 weeks. The corresponding fixture at Beatrice Avenue in November saw Vics beat today’s opponents 5-2.
Cowes Sports are without a game today as their opponents Stoneham are playing Haywards Heath Town in the FA Vase.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 14th February
Hampshire Vase
Comrades v Sandown & Lake
ECS v Overton United Reserves
Challenge Cup
Brading Town v W&B OFF
Junior A
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Newport Reserves
Junior B Quarter Finals
Bembridge & Vectis A v Oakfield A
Binstead & COB Reserves v West Wight A OFF
High Park A v Newchurch Reserves
Ryde Saints Reserves v Sandown & Lake A
Harwoods Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis
Osborne Coburg v High Park
Shanklin v Ventnor
West Wight v Northwood SJ OFF
Combination 1
High Park Reserves v Shanklin Reserves OFF
Oakfield Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v ECS Reserves OFF
Ventnor Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves OFF
W&B Reserves v West Wight Reserves
