The Yachtsmen are set to begin their FA Cup campaign on Saturday with a visit to fellow Wessex Premier club, Blackfield & Langley, in the extra preliminary round of the competition.
The Isle of Wight’s most senior side need 6 wins to reach the 1st-round proper of the FA Cup and are 13 games away from making their first appearance at Wembley. Victory against Blackfield & Langley will earn them a tie against either AFC Porchester or Horndean at Westwood Park in the preliminary round on 21st August.
Max Draper’s men had a mini-run in the FA Cup last season, beating Totton & Eling 1-0 in the extra-preliminary round, Hamble 1-0 in the preliminary round, before losing 0-5 to Southern League Weston-super-Mare in the first qualifying round. Cowes have shown inconsistent form in their season so far, winning their opening Wessex League game 0-2 at Amesbury to briefly go top of the league, before losing 4-0 at Moneyfields on Tuesday night.
Newport will play their 1st competitive game at Smallbrook Stadium, Ryde this Saturday against Romsey Town in Wessex League 1.
Newport have been in outstanding form pre-season, beating West Wight 16-0, Shanklin 2-0, East Preston 6-1 and Paulsgrove 11-0. The Port are considered among the favourites for promotion to the Wessex Premier.
Newport supporters should be aware that there will be no coach running between St George’s Park and Smallbrook on Saturday to transport supporters to the game. The coach service will, however, take supporters to Smallbrook for the next home game against Laverstock & Ford on Saturday 21st August.
East Cowes Vics also begin their Wessex League 1 campaign at Beatrice Avenue this Saturday, where they face Infinity.
Vics have shown indifferent form in their pre-season games, losing narrowly 2-1 to Cowes, drawing 2-2 with Island League champions, Whitecroft & Barton, but losing 0-1 to Island League runners-up, Shanklin.
Vectis Reserves are set to play Oakfield in the final of the Ryde & District Cup at Vicarage Lane, Brading, in September. Vectis Reserves beat Ryde Saints reserves 3-2 in their semi-final at Smallbrook stadium with a goal from Aaron Lake and a brace from Darren Wood. Oakfield won their semi-final 0-4 against Bembridge Reserves.
Football fixtures for Saturday 7th August:
FA Cup, extra preliminary round: Blackfield & Langley v Cowes Sports (15.00pm)
Wessex League 1: East Cowes Vics v Infinity (15.00pm), Newport IW v Romsey Town (15.00pm)
Pre-season friendlies: Binstead & COB v Osborne Coburg (13:15); Binstead & COB Res v Osborne Coburg Res (15:15); Sandown & Lake v Carisbrooke United (13:00); Sandown & Lake Res v AFC Wootton Res (15:00); Yarmouth & Calbourne Res v East Cowes Sports Res (14:00); Yarmouth & Calbourne v East Cowes Sports (16:00); Northwood St Johns v Ventnor (13:30); Northwood St Johns Reserves v Ventnor Reserves (15:30); Brading Town v Vectis (13:30); Brading Town Reserves v Vectis Reserves (16:00); Oakfield v Ryde Saints (13:00); Oakfield Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves (15:00); Adgestone v East Cowes Vics Reserves (13:00)
