Newport IW is the only Wessex League side in action on the Isle of Wight this afternoon (Saturday), weather permitting, with both Cowes Sports and East Cowes Victoria travelling to North Island.
Port currently occupy 10th place in Wessex Division 1 after a last gasp victory away to Blackfield & Langley midweek – their first win of the new year. Opponents Amesbury are currently in 14th place. The corresponding fixture in Wiltshire in September saw the Isle of Wight side take all 3 points.
The County Town club still have a considerable fixture backlog with games in hand on all the teams above in the table. Port are 12 points behind 4th-placed Yateley United but have 6 games in hand.
Port manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s prospects:
“Amesbury can are a very physical and direct side, hard to play against from set pieces. Hopefully, we can cause them problems at home as it’s a much bigger pitch. We had a great result there early in the season with 5 16/17 year olds playing, so fingers crossed.”
Christchurch v Cowes Sports is OFF
In the Wessex Premier, 14th placed Cowes Sports travel cross the Solent to face the team 1 place above them in the table: Christchurch.
The Yachtsmen lost at home against perennial opponents Laverstock & Ford last Saturday before having their midweek game away to Hythe & Dibden called off at the very last moment. Christchurch have yet to play a game in January.
The two sides met at the Zilch Waste Stadium in November when the Yachtsmen won by the only goal of the game.
Manager Mark Woodhouse said of the wasted journey to the mainland midweek:
“We were frustrated to have travelled only to be told pretty much on arrival that the game was off. We just hope we get better luck this weekend.
“We have made contact with Christchurch to ensure this does not happen again this weekend as its not fair on the lads who already make a huge commitment, not to mention the financial loss to the club.”
On his side’s chances against Christchurch, Mark added:
“We will go there to try to get back to winning ways. We will the go there with confidence and see where that takes us.”
Sherborne Town v East Cowes Victoria is OFF
Also in the Wessex Premier, 11th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to Dorset to face the team one place above: Sherborne Town
The game will be subject to an early morning pitch inspection.
Vics picked up their first 3 points of 2026 last Saturday with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Bournemouth Poppies; Sherborne have been without a competitive league game this year. The Zebras last match was on 27th December when they beat local rivals Wincanton Town 0-2.
The East Cowes side travelled to the GMS Windows Arena in September, losing 2-0 in the FA Vase.
In Isle of Wight football, leaders West Wight have a chance to go 6 points clear of 2nd-placed W&B (who are without a game) when they play Shanklin at the County Ground.
One fixture certain to go ahead today – whatever the weather – is the Cowes derby between Cowes Sports and Northwood on the 3G pitch at Cowes Enterprise College.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 24th January
Memorial Cup
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Ventnor ON
Junior A
High Park Reserves v ECS
W&B Reserves v Sandown & Lake ON
Junior B
Oakfield A v Bembridge & Vectis A OFF
Ryde Saints Reserves v Sandown & Lake A
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge & Vectis v High Park
Cowes Sports Reserves v Northwood SJ ON
Osborne Coburg v Oakfield ON
Shanklin v West Wight ON
Division 2
Binstead & COB v Ryde Saints OFF
Pan v Niton
Combination 1
Oakfield Reserves v ECS Reserves OFF
