UPDATE: (12:30) Newport (IoW) v Fawley and Andover Town v East Cowes Vics have been postponed. The FA Cup game between Cowes Sports and Melksham Town is ON.
Cowes Sports – the Isle of Wight’s sole representative’s in this year’s FA Cup – take on Southern League Melksham Town in the Extra Preliminary Round at Westwood Park at 15:00.
The furthest the Yachtsmen have reached in this particular competition to date is the 4th Qualifying Round in 1957/58 and 1963/64. This is further than their Wiltshire opponents – who reached the 3rd Qualifying Round in 1954/55 and 1957/58 – have ever achieved.
Last season, Cowes overcame Hamble in the Extra Preliminary Round before losing 4-2 at Southern League Larkhall Athletic in extra time after holding the Bath-based side to a draw at Westwood Park.
The Yachtsmen are a much-changed side from the previous season, having signed 6 of Newport’s best players: captain Ryan Oatley and top scorer Connor Kelly as well as 1st team regulars Scott Barron, Liam Triggs, George Colson and Joe Hancott, They have also poached highly-rated midfield dynamo Jordan Cook from Island champions Shanklin.
Cowes will hopefully be able to call on the services of 2 key forwards who have recovered from long-term injuries: Connor Furmidge and Jimmy Burton. Unfortunately, influential midfielder Brandon Hayward has yet to recover from a broken foot sustained in the Gold Cup final win against Newport.
Only 2 players are missing from last year’s team: Aedan Coode, who has signed for East Cowes Vics, and the much-travelled Henry West, who has joined Newport. Given the size of the 1st team squad – said to be well in excess of 20 – further departures may be on the cards.
Manager Max Draper says of the game against Melksham:
“We’ve done our research. Melksham are a good challenge for us. They are a physically strong, quick and dynamic side.
“Pre-season has been difficult because many of the team were playing for the Isle of Wight in Guernsey. We’ve therefore had to condense our preparations into just 3 weeks.
“Unfortunately, 3 players came back from the Channel Islands carrying knocks. However, the squad is now fit and healthy. John McKie is in good nick.”
UPDATE: The Wessex Division 1 game between Andover Town and East Cowes Vics has been postponed.
In Hampshire Division 1, East Cowes Vics face a difficult tie in North Hampshire at promotion prospects Andover Town.
Like Cowes, Vics have strengthened their side at the expense of Newport, with Rafferty Boyd-Kerr, Jacob Reynolds, Jordan Chapman and Ji Nash all joining the Beatrice Avenue outfit from the County Town club. Brad Young and Cory Sanderson have signed from Island Champions Shanklin, with Aedan Coode and Teddy Mumford crossing the Medina from Cowes Sports.
A few players have departed, including powerful forward/midfielder Sam Cant – who will be playing for W&B – and Keelan Walsh (to Newport).
Manager Alex Smith says of his side’s prospects for the forthcoming season:
“We’ll make a judgement after 5 or so games in terms of where we think we’re at. In the meantime, we’ll attack every game with a fresh mindset and strive for 3 points in every fixture.
“The new signings have settled in exceptionally well, immediately clicking within the group and raising the standards. We also welcome Brad Young, Ted Mumford and Cory Sanderson, who have so far gone unannounced, but will feature for our first team this season, in addition to a number of our exciting under 18s squad.
“We’re feeling confident about the season ahead and know we’ve left no stone unturned in our preparations.”
On Vics’ prospects against Andover Town, Alex says:
“It’s now time to take our learnings from preseason and execute them on Saturday.
“Andover Town are the only team to have beaten us by a big margin since I took charge. That night was under difficult circumstances after a nasty injury to Tyler Greenslade, from which he’s not yet fully recovered.
“We’ll be looking to take our new look side there with a positive and ambitious attitude, aiming to bring three points back to the Island.”
There certainly seems to be an optimistic buzz around Beatrice Avenue ahead of the start of the new season.
UPDATE: The Wessex Division 1 game between Newport (IoW) and Fawley has been postponed.
Newport will start their Wessex Division 1 campaign against Fawley at Beatrice Avenue – home of East Cowes Vics – at 15:00.
Of the 1st team regulars from last season, only goalkeeper Leon Pitman, utility player Josh Younie and forwards Jordan Browne and Joe Butcher remain.
There have been a couple of signings from other Island Wessex League clubs, with Keelan Walsh joining from Vics and Henry West from Cowes Sports.
Some former 1st team regulars such – as Scott Sampson, Spike Pearce and Martin McDonough – may return on a regular basis. Saturday may also see some new faces joining from Eastleigh Academy.
The goalkeeper jersey is likely to be taken by Joe McCormack this Saturday as Leon Pitman is unavailable and Gary Streeter suspended from last season.
Good luck to all Isle of Wight Wessex League teams for the forthcoming season from the team at Island Echo.
