UPDATE: All Wessex League games (Cowes Sports, East Cowes Vics, Newport) have failed pitch inspections this morning (Saturday 1st April) and will not be played.
Postponements to Island League games will be shown where they have been announced.
Cowes Sports v Stoneham: Game off
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen – who have now been sucked into a desperate relegation dogfight – face a difficult tie at home to 2nd-placed Stoneham at Westwood Park today (Saturday).
Cowes Sports have been on a poor run of form without a win in 5 games but secured a creditable draw at Christchurch last Saturday. Stoneham had been on a run of 6 successive victories until they were beaten by promotion rivals Horndean in their last game.
The Yachtsmen currently lie in 17th place, 3 points above 2nd-from-bottom Pagham – who have 3 games in hand on the Island side. Next Saturday, the Islanders travel to Pagham for a relegation 6-pointer.
Both Pagham and 18th-placed Bournemouth have future games against bottom club Alresford Town, who are already relegated and have taken just 4 points in the season to date.
Cowes assistant manager Andy Brown says:
“With the top 2 promotion positions now probably down to just 3 teams and Stoneham being one of them (currently sitting in 2nd), we are obviously up against it and seen as the underdogs.
“However, the lads have trained well during the week, earned a deserved point away to Christchurch last Saturday and were also unlucky not to get something out of the game when we played Stoneham away.
“So, as always, we will all give it our best shot and look to upset the form book.”
Wessex Premier table below:
Remaining games (for teams in 17th, 18th and 19th positions):
Cowes Sports: Stoneham (H), Pagham (A), Shaftesbury (H), Moneyfields (A)
Bournemouth: Moneyfields (H), Hythe & Dibden (A), Alresford Town (H), Stoneham (H), Hamble (A)
Pagham: Portland United (H), Fareham Town (A), Cowes (H), Baffins Milton Rovers (H), Bemerton H. H. (H), Alresford Town (A), Blackfield & Langley (A)
East Cowes Vics v Verwood Town: Game off
In Wessex Division 1, 15th-placed East Cowes Vics entertain 12th-placed Verwood Town at Beatrice Avenue in their final home game of the season.
Vics now have only a theoretical chance of relegation, needing a single point from their remaining 5 games to avoid the drop.
It has been quite a turnaround for Vics, who were 2nd-from-bottom with only 1 win when manager Alex Smith took over shortly before Christmas.
Since then, Vics have won 7, drawn 4 and lost 5 games with Alex at the helm – gaining an impressive 25 points from 16 games.
When asked how he has transformed Vics’ form, Alex said:
“As a group, people come 1st and football comes 2nd. We’ve worked hard on the way we communicate, the relationships and all the small details which make a big difference.
“The group has a great capacity to learn and improve, and it’s my responsibility to continue to draw it out of them and ensure the group remains galvanised.
“Our togetherness is our biggest strength, with competition for places and transparency running throughout the squad.”
Island Echo also asked Alex how the side would perform now that the threat of relegation has receded.
Alex responded:
“Now is when we’ll really find out what we’re about. With the pressure we put on ourselves somewhat relieved, we have to push on and see what targets we can set for next season.
“There are places in the league table to play for, and we all want to finish as high as we possibly can.”
A pitch inspection will be held at Beatrice Avenue at 09:45.
Newport (IoW) v Whitchurch United: Game off
Also in Wessex Division 1, promotion-chasing Port have a home fixture against 16th-placed Whitchurch United at Smallbrook.
3rd-placed Newport currently lie 5 points off top spot, with just 1 team automatically promoted to the Wessex Premier.
Sides from 2nd to 5th place compete in the playoffs, with the County Town club already assured of a playoff place.
Newport travel to top club Andover New Street for their final game of the season on 15th April.
Wessex Division 1 table below:
Remaining fixtures for top 3 Wessex Division 1 sides:
Andover New Street: Totton & Eling (A), Fleetlands (A), Andover Town (H), East Cowes Vics (H), Newport (H)
New Milton Town: Ash United (H), Fleetlands (A)
Newport (IoW): Whitchurch United (H), East Cowes Vics (H), Fleetlands (A), Andover Town (A) Andover New Street (A)
Fixtures may be subject to cancelations with uncertain weather forecast
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 1st April
Premier Division
Cowes Sports v AFC Stoneham OFF
Division One
East Cowes Vics v Verwood Town OFF
Newport IOW v Whitchurch United OFF
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 1st April
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 2.00pm unless otherwise shown
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1
Brading Town v Shanklin OFF
Oakfield v Binstead & COB OFF
Pan Community v Whitecroft & Barton Sports OFF
Sandown & Lake v Bembridge
Vectis v Northwood St Johns
West Wight v ECS OFF
Division 2
Niton Community v High Park OFF
Yarmouth & Calbourne v Osborne Coburg
No Fixture: Carisbrooke United; East Cowes Vics Reserves; Newchurch; Seaview; Ventnor
Combination Division 1
Binstead & COB v West Wight OFF
ECS v Bembridge
Northwood St Johns v Sandown & Lake
Vectis v Brading Town OFF
No Fixture: Shanklin
Fixtures courtesy of IOW DFA
