Both East Cowes Vics and Newport IW have home ties this afternoon (Saturday), while Cowes Sports travel to North Island.
All our Wessex League sides won midweek and will be attempting to carry on that winning momentum to today’s games.
In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed Vics take on 19th-placed New Milton Town at Beatrice Avenue.
The Victorians began February poorly with defeats at home to Portland United and away to Brockenhurst. However, the East Cowes side have improved their form of late with a win on the road at Wincanton last Saturday and victory against 2nd-placed Hamble on Tuesday.
2nd-from-bottom New Milton Town are currently on a miserable 12-game winless run having last taken 3 points away to Bournemouth at the start of December.
An East Cowes Vics spokesperson has said:
“The Vics look to follow up Tuesday’s impressive victory as we take on our old foes from our Division 1 days, New Milton Town. Our visitors currently sit 19th in the Wessex Premier League table and will undoubtedly bring a strong fighting spirit to the Island.”
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Vics beat the Brickies 1-2 in the corresponding fixture in September.
Also in the Wessex Premier, 16th-placed Cowes Sports face a difficult tie at 5th-placed Petersfield Town.
On Tuesday, the Yachtsmen advanced to the semi final of the Wessex League Cup at the expense of Wessex Division 1 Fleetlands. However, their recent league form has been less impressive with 4 straight defeats.
The Rams are on a run of poor form themselves, having lost all their 5 league games since Christmas, including against bottom side Wincanton Town.
Cowes Sports manager Mark Woodhouse said of his side’s midweek victory:
“The quarter final win over Fleetlands was excellent. The pitch was incredibly soft which meant we needed to adapt and play in a different way. Travelling on Tuesday nights from the Island poses an additional challenge and to have been away for the entire cup run to reach the semi final is an awesome achievement.
“The lads would love to go on more round and reach that final.”
On today’s visit to Petersfield, ‘Woody’ commented:
“The lads have had the night off from training to try to recover the legs. We are at the beginning of a crazy fixture schedule where we play 7 games in 15 days so the need for fresh legs is going to be vital. Any team we play in this period will pose a tough challenge.
“Keeping players on the pitch at the moment is an amazing achievement with the crazy fixture scheduling, but we will be positive and do our best to return with 3 points. The lads are on a high from Tuesday so we hope to take that momentum into this afternoon.”
The corresponding fixture at the Zilch Waste Stadium in November saw the Rams trounce the Yachtsmen 0-5.
In Wessex Division 1, 6th-placed Newport take on the team immediately below in the league table – Yateley United – at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
Port are currently on a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions, having last lost to Frimley Green on 17th January. The County Town club beat league leaders Colden Common in midweek to reach the playoff places for 24 hours before Folland Sports’ win at Blackfield & Langley saw the Planemakers return to the coveted 5th spot.
Opponents Yateley have won their last 3 competitive games.
Manager Joe Butcher says of his team’s prospects:
“I’m expecting another really tough game. They’ve also been on a good run and are in and amongst the playoff spots. They were a very good footballing side when we played at their place.”
The corresponding fixture in September saw Port take all 3 points with a 2-3 win.
The big game in Isle of Wight football sees Harwoods Division 2 side East Cowes Sports face Comrades from the Southampton Saturday League in the semi final of the Hampshire Vase at the GKN Sports Ground.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 7th March
Hampshire Vase
ECS v Comrades
Memorial Cup
West Wight v Binstead & COB (13:30)
Brading Town v Cowes Sports Reserves at Cowes Enterprise College
Junior B
Sandown & Lake A v Ryde Saints Reserves
West Wight A v Binstead & COB Reserves (15:15) at Camp Road OFF
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge & Vectis v Northwood SJ
High Park v W&B
Shanklin v Osborne Coburg
Division 2
Newport Reserves v Newchurch
Ryde Saints v East Cowes Vics Reserves OFF
Sandown & Lake v Seaview
Combination 1
High Park Reserves v Shanklin Reserves OFF
Oakfield Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
W&B Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge & Vectis A v High Park A
Newchurch Reserves v Oakfield A
