In the only Wessex League fixture on the Island this Saturday, Newport are back at Smallbrook for the 3rd weekend in a row, playing host to Whitchurch.
Having failed to pick up a point since mid-December, their 12th-placed opponents, Whitchurch United, will be feeling buoyant after their 5-2 victory over Totton & Eling last weekend. Newport come into the fixture in 2nd place, after gaining 3 points against Fawley last Saturday. This is Newport’s final fixture before taking on league leaders Bemerton at Moon Park Salisbury next Saturday in a game likely to determine which of the 2 sides take the automatic promotion place in Wessex League 1.
With the storms set to hit tomorrow, it is likely there will be a pitch inspection early on Saturday morning. If the game goes ahead, kick off is at 14.00, with the minibus leaving the former ground at St George’s Park Newport at 12.45pm
In the other game to be played in Wessex League 1, 16th placed East Cowes Vics travel to Wiltshire to face 6th-placed Laverstock & Ford. Last
Saturday, Vics picked up their 1st 3 points of 2022 by beating Ash United at Beatrice Avenue and will be hoping to make more distance between themselves and the bottom 2 Division 1 clubs.
Manager Richie Woodburn said:
“It’s a tough away fixture to a side in good form and making a late lunge for the play offs!
“The predicted weather forecast, combined with Laverstock’s pitch characteristics, suggests the game is at high risk of postponement. We, however, are hoping the game goes ahead, as in such conditions the game can be more of a lottery if we apply yourselves correctly, which will only increase our chances of getting a more favourable result. Also, it would mean a logistically awkward midweek trip to fulfil a fixture we would rather avoid with only 10 games to go.
“Liam Newbold and Harri Catania are still absent through injury, and Will Hunt has been transferred in this week from Newport to deputise on goal due to more keeper unavailability issues. Petersfield are currently sat in 13th place and only 3pts ahead of us, plus we have a game in hand. So, lots to place for still as we head into the final couple of months of the season.”
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In The Wessex Premier, 15th-placed Cowes Sports travel to the New Forest to face a 4th-placed Bashley side, who have won each of their last 7 fixtures. The Yachtsmen have returned to good form themselves after beating US Portsmouth 3-1 at Westwood Park last Saturday.
Cowes Sports manager Max Draper says:
“We go into Saturday’s game after a week off, which is rare for us at the moment. Bashley are in fine form and pushing hard at the top end of the league, so it’s going to be tough, and we are well and truly underdogs again. But hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves like we did in the home game against them: losing 3-4 to a last-minute goal.
“We havea few changes from last week due to injuries. Losing Conor White for 4 weeks with a freak eye injury in last week’s game will be a big loss. But we will be welcoming back Jimmy Wykes from his Navy training, which has been a long time coming, and Ewan Cranwell after unavailability last week.”
The biggest game in Isle of Wight Division 1, Brading Town v W&B has already fallen victim to the weather.
Island Echo will update readers on any further postponements on Saturday morning.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 19th February 2022
Wessex Premier
POSTPONED: Bashley v Cowes Sports (15:00)
Division 1
POSTPONED: Laverstock & Ford v East Cowes Vics (15.00)
POSTPONED: Newport IoW v Whitchurch United (14.00)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 19th February 2022
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00
The Ken Morris IOW Junior ‘A’ Cup sponsored by the Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League – 3rd Round
Adgestone v Yarmouth & Calbourne
East Cowes Sports v AFC Wootton
POSTPONED: Northwood St Johns Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
POSTPONED: Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves v Pan Community
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division Binstead & COB v Niton Community
POSTPONED: Cowes Sports Reserves v Sandown & Lake
Oakfield v Northwood St Johns
POSTPONED: Shanklin v Vectis
POSTPONED: West Wight v Bembridge
No Fixture: Ryde Saints
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2
Carisbrooke United v Wroxall
POSTPONED: East Cowes Vics Reserves v Osborne Coburg
POSTPONED: Newchurch v High Park
POSTPONED: Ventnor v Seaview
No Fixture: Newport Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 1
POSTPONED: Bembridge v Binstead & COB
Ryde Saints v Brading Town
POSTPONED: Sandown & Lake v West Wight
No Fixture: Oakfield & Osborne Coburg
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 2
AFC Wootton v Vectis
POSTPONED: Bembridge ‘A’ v East Cowes Sports
Pan Community v Carisbrooke United
No Fixture: Newchurch & Ventnor
Fixtures courtesy of Isle of Wight DFA. Information correct as of 10:00 Friday 19th February
