UPDATE: (12:00) The games between Cowes Sports and Fareham Town, and East Cowes Vics and Hameworthy Recreation have both passed pitch inspections.
UPDATE: The game between Cowes Sports and Fareham Town is subject to a further pitch inspection at 11:30.
UPDATE: The game between Andover New Street and Newport has been called off due to a frozen pitch.
Pitch inspections are planned for East Cowes Vics (10:00) and Cowes Sports (09:45) this morning (Saturday).
Island Echo will provide further updates on game cancellations as and when we hear the news.
Newport travel to current Division 1 league leaders Andover New Street tomorrow (Saturday) in their biggest game of the season so far.
The Port sit just 3 places and 5 points below their hosts. Andover New Street’s form speaks for itself, having not lost a league game this season and winning 14 out of their 18 games played so far.
However, Newport did the double over Street last season and will be up for this fixture, having won their last 3 games and being unbeaten in 5.
The game is very much a 6-pointer. A win would leave the Port 2 points behind the league leaders with a game in hand, but a draw would leave the Island side trailing by 8 points. Only 1 team is assured of promotion to the Wessex Premier, with those in positions 2 to 5 having to compete in the lottery of playoffs.
Hopefully, the game will go ahead despite the current cold snap. However, Island Echo will endeavour to inform our readers of any match postponements in a timely manner.
Wessex Division 1 (top) below:
Also in Wessex Division 1, East Cowes Vics will be looking for their 1st home win of the season at Beatrice Avenue against newly-promoted Hamworthy Recreation, who currently sit in midtable.
New manager Alex Smith – who has just 2 games under his belt – remains optimistic and upbeat.
Alex says:
“It is an exciting weekend, which will hopefully bring a game for us, after so much disruption with the weather. The players have been working exceptionally hard at training and are keen to put in a performance that rids us of the demons of the Fleet game. Liam Newbold is unfortunately still suspended for another two games but all other players are now available for selection.
“We’re pleased that Liam immediately turned down an approach from Cowes Sports and are very much looking forward to getting him back playing. I’m really positive about where we’re at and the progress we’re making is terrific. We’ll do everything we can to put in an outstanding performance on Saturday.”
Wessex Division 1 (bottom) below:
In the Wessex Premier, 3rd-from-bottom Cowes Sports – who are currently on a dismal run of 10 games without a win – face 13th-placed Fareham Town at Westwood Park.
Assistant manager Andy Brown says:
“Having only played 1 game in the last 6 weeks, everyone is so looking forward to getting our season back underway. This is especially important with fixtures now backed up and us having to play twice a week (every week), in both January and February. Fareham are 5 places above us but have lost their last 4 league games. With us being at home, hopefully, this gives us an edge, and our aim is to put in a performance, plus get the three points we have all been working hard to achieve.”
Wessex Premier (bottom) below:
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 21st January
Premier Division
Cowes Sports v Fareham Town
Division One
Andover New Street v Newport (IoW) OFF
East Cowes Victoria v Hamworthy Recreation
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 21st January 2023
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase – 3rd Round
Ryde Saints Reserves v Northwood St Johns Reserves
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase – 4th Round
Silchester Village v Carisbrooke United
Harwoods Renault Division 1
Brading Town v Shanklin OFF
ECS v Binstead & COB
Pan Community v Northwood St Johns
Ryde Saints v West Wight OFF
Sandown & Lake v Bembridge OFF
Vectis v Cowes Sports Reserves
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Oakfield
Harwoods Renault Division 2
AFC Wootton v Newchurch
Niton Community v Ventnor OFF
Osborne Coburg v East Cowes Vics Reserves
Seaview v High Park
No Fixture: Yarmouth & Calbourne
Harwoods Renault Combination 1
Bembridge v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Binstead & COB v Sandown & Lake
Oakfield v ECS
Shanklin v West Wight
Vectis v Brading Town OFF
Harwoods Renault Combination 2
Bembridge ‘A’ v Osborne Coburg
Newchurch v Pan Community OFF
Ventnor v Niton Community OFF
No Fixture: AFC Wootton
