The game between Newport IW and Cove is OFF due to a waterlogged pitch.
In the only Wessex League game on the Isle of Wight today (Saturday), 8th-placed Newport take on the team immediately below in the Division 1 table – Cove – at Westwood Park.
Port are only a point below 5th-placed Yateley United – who occupy the final playoff spot – but have 3 games in hand. In their last game, the County Town club narrowly beat midtable Hamworthy United.
Newport have been in indifferent form in recent games, winning at home but losing on the road; Cove are unbeaten in 3 games but lost their last away game against leaders Whitchurch United.
Manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s prospects:
“Cove have the best defence in the league and only lost twice. We’ve got the third best defensive record ourselves and are unbeaten at home, so I’m sure they are expecting a tough game.
“I’ve seen no footage of them, so we will have to find out on the day.”
In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to 2nd-placed Petersfield Town.
Vics have been in excellent league form of late, winning 4 and losing 1 of their last 5 league games; Petersfield lost their last game away to promotion-chasing Hamble.
A supporters’ bus will be taking fans of the East Cowes side to East Hampshire to cheer on the Vics.
East Cowes Victoria say of the fixture:
“Another opportunity to take on a top side; another opportunity to test ourselves; another opportunity to push forward.”
Also in the Wessex Premier, 15th-placed Cowes Sports travel to Wiltshire to face 10th-placed Laverstock & Ford.
This is the Yachtsmen’s 2nd jouney to Salisbury in a fortnight, having travelled earlier in the month to play in the Wessex League Cup in a game abandoned due to a torrential downpour. Earlier in the season, the 2 sides clashed in the FA Cup, drawing 2-2 at the Zilch Waste Stadium before Laverstock winning the replay at home.
Cowes ended a 5-game winless run with victory over Christchurch last Saturday; Laverstock have been in fantastic form over recent games and are unbeaten in 7.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of the fixture:
“We have played them 2 and a half times already this year. We know they are a team bang in form, having knocked 5 past Milbrook in midweek.
“We enjoyed the win last Saturday, and it was a result which was testiment to the hard graft the lads have been putting in off the pitch in recent weeks.
“The lads worked hard again in training, and we will go there looking to put in another good performance to back up last week’s excellent effort.”
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 22nd November
All games to kick off at 14:00
Memorial Cup
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Ventnor OFF
ECS v Osborne Coburg
High Park v Cowes Sports Reserves
Niton v Binstead & COB OFF
Northwood SJ v Brading Town
West Wight v Shanklin
W&B v Newport Reserves
Harwoods Division 2
Newchurch v Ryde Saints
Pan Community v Seaview
Combination 1
Bembridge & Vectis Reserves v ECS Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v W&B Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v Oakfield Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge & Vectis A v Newchurch Reserves
Ryde Saints Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Ventnor A v West Wight A
