Newport IW FC – the only Isle of Wight Wessex League club in action this afternoon (Saturday) – will take on Hamworthy United at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
Port began the season poorly with 3 straight league defeats before clawing their way up the Wessex Division 1 table to reach the playoff places. However, indifferent form in recent games, with 2 defeats in their last 3 league league fixtures, has seen the County Town club drop to 6th – one place below the play off places.
Opponents – 12th-placed Hamworthy United – have been in poor form since their emphatic 7-1 win over Kintbury Rangers back on 11th October with a 4-game winless run. The Hammers’ fortunes improved in their last game when they drew 4-4 at promotion chasing Frimley Green.
Port manager Joe Butcher says of his sides prospects:
“It will be a difficult game. They were one of my favourites for the league before we started but have had an inconsistent start. Going forwards, I think they have the most dangerous front line in the league, so it will be a tough game!
“We’ve still got players struggling with injuries or making their way back to fitness but we’ll try and get a positive result.”
In the Wessex Premier, 16th-placed Cowes Sports will be hoping to return to good form when they travel to Salisbury to face 18th-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
The Yachtsmen have been in poor form since beating Wincanton Town on 11th October with 4 straight defeats. However, their opponents have been in worse form with a run of 5 straight losses and went down 7-1 to Baffins Milton Rovers last Saturday.
Cowes co-manager Ian Potts says of his side’s prospects:
“We will approach this game like we do every game. We have worked hard in training, had a great prep and we will be working hard to try to turn our form around. This is a busy week coming up for us, but its what we love.”
The Yachtsmen return to Wiltshire on Tuesday (11th November) when they play Laverstock & Ford in the Wessex League Cup.
Also in Wessex Division 1, 13th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to Dorset to face 11th-placed Bournemouth Poppies.
Vics have been in excellent form of late with 3 straight league wins. Last Saturday, the East Cowes side beat last year’s FA Vase semi-finalists Andover New Street at Beatrice Avenue. Their opponents have shown indifferent form recently with a win, a loss and a defeat in thier last 3 games.
An East Cowes Victoria spokesperson commented:
“With just one point separating the sides, Bournemouth Poppies currently sit two places above The Vics in the table.
“In what’s sure to be a tough away game, we’ll be doing all we can to take all three points and make it four league wins in a row.”
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 8th November
All games kick off at 14:00
Hampshire Trophy
Brading Town v Bournemouth Sports
Harwoods Division 1
High Park v Cowes Sports Reserves
Northwood SJ v W&B
Oakfield v Ventnor
Osborne Coburg v Bembridge & Vectis
West Wight v Shanklin
Division 2
Binstead & COB v ECS
East Cowes Victoria Reserves v Ryde Saints
Niton v Pan Community
Sandown & Lake v Newchurch
Seaview v Newport Reserves
Combination 1
ECS Reserves v High Park Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Oakfield Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
W&B Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge & Vectis A v Binstead & COB Reserves
Newchurch Reserves v High Park A
West Wight A v Ryde Saints Reserves
