All 3 Isle of Wight Wessex League sides play away with both Division 1 teams facing crucial games at opposite ends of the table this Saturday (March 26th).
5th-placed Newport travel to North Hampshire to face 3rd-placed Andover New Street at Foxcotte Park in their final scheduled away game of the season. The Port are currently 8 points behind leaders Bemerton with a game in hand. However, with only 5 games remaining, the chances of gaining the 1 automatic promotion place appear increasingly unlikely.
Teams in Wessex Division 1 finishing in the 2nd to 5th positions compete in the promotion play offs. The County Town club are currently 4 points ahead of 6th-placed Laverstock & Ford with both sides having played an equal number of games.
Earlier in the season, Newport beat Andover New Street 2-1 in the corresponding fixture at Smallbrook Stadium. Andover racked up 29 goals in February, but since then have been held to 2 draws and a narrow win, scoring just twice in 3 games so far in March. Newport will be keen to build on their 8-goal win in the Gold Cup this week and – having lost out to a single goal last weekend – will be keen to pick up maximum points.
For any supporters wishing to make the trip to North Hampshire, a coach leaves St George’s at 11:00 for the 12:00 ferry, returning on the 19:30. The cost of the away trip is just £15.
East Cowes Vics travel to Wiltshire to face 7th-placed Downton. Vics are currently 3rd-from-bottom in Wessex Division 1, 5 points ahead of Fleet Spurs in the relegation drop zone. Manager Richard Woodburn says:
“There are only 5 league games to go, 3 against promotion chasing sides – not including Downton who are 7th – so it’s a tough run in for us. We secured a 2 all draw there in our pervious visit, and usually do well at Downton.
“Sadly however, our senior squad is decimated with injuries, illness, and suspensions, so this is an opportunity for some of our younger lads to stake a claim in our senior squad and give the management team more options moving forward.”
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In the Wessex Premier, Cowes Sports travel to North Hampshire to play Alresford Town. Alresford drew 1-1 with the Yachtsmen at Westwood Park in January. Cowes are currently playing only for pride, being 15 points above 2nd-from-bottom-club, Hythe & Dibden and safe from any danger of relegation.
The big game on the Isle of Wight this Saturday is the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup quarter final at Vicarage Lane, where the Romans face Isle of Wight Champions Whitecroft & Barton. Brading are the only Island side to have beaten W&B in recent years, ending their long unbeaten run with a memorable 1-2 victory at Sandy Lane in the Memorial Cup last month.
Romans’ manager Steve Lawton says:
“I always look forward to playing W&B: they have a lot of quality players, and you want to test yourselves against the best. I have some good friends there as well: people I respect and have a lot of time for. We have had some great games against them over the years, but it’s their consistency that we all aspire to: that’s why they win leagues year after year. I’ve not been able to put the same team out 2 games in a row, and that doesn’t help, whereas their side very rarely changes.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday, 26th March, 2022
Premier Division
Alresford Town v Cowes Sports (15:00)
Division One
Andover New Street v Newport IoW (15:00)
Downton v East Cowes Vics (14:45)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 26th March 2022
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00 unless otherwise shown
Harwoods DACIA Senior (Gold Cup) – Quarter-Final
Brading Town v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Isle of Wight 1st Irish Rifles Memorial Cup 4th Round
Binstead & COB v Shanklin
The Ken Morris Isle of Wight Junior ‘A’ Cup – Semi-Final
Northwood St Johns Reserves v East Cowes Sports
The U.N.I.S.O.N Isle of Wight Junior ‘B’ Cup – Semi-Finals
Bembridge ‘A’ v AFC Wootton Reserves
Vectis Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v West Wight
Oakfield v Sandown & Lake
Ryde Saints v Niton Community
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2
Adgestone v High Park
East Cowes Vics Reserves v AFC Wootton
Pan Community v Carisbrooke United
Ventnor v Wroxall
Yarmouth & Calbourne v Osborne Coburg
No Fixture: Newchurch & Seaview
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 1
Sandown & Lake v Ryde Saints
Shanklin v Oakfield
West Wight v Bembridge
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Brading Town
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 2
Carisbrooke United v Ventnor
Fixtures courtesy of IOW DFA
