Newport will kick off against Lymington Town in Wessex Division 1 at Westwood Park at 15:00 this afternoon (Saturday).
Over recent years, Port have had 2 spells at Beatrice Avenue (home of East Cowes Victoria) and a couple of seasons at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde. However, this is the first time they have lodged at the home of the team that has traditionally been regarded as their greatest rivals: Cowes Sports.
Work at Port’s new stadium on the Racecourse in Whippingham appears to have stalled completely with no sign of it resuming in the immediate future.
The County Town club began their season with 5 successive away games – the first 4 of which they lost. However, Port’s fortunes took a turn for the better in the FA Vase last Saturday when they beat Pagham (one step above in the league pyramid) on penalties.
Newport currently lie bottom of their division having failed to take a single point from their 3 league games to date.
Port’s chances of taking 3 points will be bolstered by the return of captain Joe Hancock and key utility player Jez Conway.
Manager Joe Butcher says of the forthcoming fixture:
“Looking forward to our first home game of the season and to also welcoming some more players back into the squad. We need to try our best to make Westwood a fortress, it’s a great pitch to play on! We’ve played on some awful surfaces so far in the away games.”
On the other side of the Medina, East Cowes Victoria take on Wincanton Town in the Wessex Premier.
2nd-from-bottom Vics are winless in their first 6 games of the season. They have have also yet to score a goal in 180 minutes of Wessex Premier League competition. However, the return of prolific striker Scott Jones will hopefully see Vics start to hit the back of the net again in league games.
Also in the Wessex Premier, Cowes Sports travel to Dorset to face 2nd-placed Sherborne Town.
The Yachtsmen currently lie in 8th place with a 100% record in their 2 league games and games in hand on all the teams above.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of his side’s recent form and prospects today:
“The management team and the players have had a good week, advancing in the FA Vase and Wessex League Cup. That was the plan at the start of last weekend – the Wincanton and East Cowes Vics games were completely different, but the lads showed great courage and character to get two brilliant results.
“Sherborne will be a completely different game. It’s back to the league, they have started really well, are a big,physical organised team but can also play football the right way. It’s one of the longest trips of the season, but we go there on the back of some good results of late, confident and hopefully looking to carry on our good league form.
“It won’t be easy, but we as a club love a challenge.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 30th August
Wessex Premier
East Cowes Victoria v Wincanton Town
Sherborne Town v Cowes Sports
Wessex Division 1
Newport IW v Lymington Town
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 30th August
Kick off at 14:00 unless stated otherwise
Harwoods Division 1
Osborne Coburg v Northwood St Johns (13:00)
Bembridge & Vectis v West Wight (13:30)
Brading Town v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Oakfield v High Park
Ventnor v Cowes Sports Reserves
Combination 1
Bembridge & Vectis Reserves v Oakfield Reserves (15:30)
ECS Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v High Park Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
West Wight Reserves v Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves
