In the only Wessex League game to be played on the Isle of Wight today (Saturday), in Division 1, 2nd-placed East Cowes Vics face midtable Ringwood Town at Beatrice Avenue.
The Victorians have a 100% record in the league season to date and have only conceded 2 goals in 4 games – the lowest of any side in their division.
On Wednesday, Vics defeated local rivals Newport in a penalty shootout in the Wessex League Cup.
Manager Alex Smith, while pleased with the win, was not completely happy with the performance, telling Island Echo:
“Overall, I’m obviously pleased we got the win and were able to keep building momentum moving forwards, but we all know that the performance wasn’t good enough. We sacrificed far too much control of the game through lack of bravery to stay on the ball and made choices we’d never usually make.
“Whilst I’m sure it was great for the neutral, the game was far too open for my liking, but we know what we have to do moving forwards.
“Co-managers Butch (Joe Butcher) and Marty (Martin McDonough) have done a great job so far for Newport, and the performances of their young players in particular were great to see.”
Alex is not anticipating an easy win over Ringwood, saying:
“Ringwood’s results prove they’re a very dangerous side. Our focus is solely on getting back to a performance level we’re proud of.
“We have high standards and it’s important we hit those levels every single game if we want to be successful.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 7th-placed Newport travel to North Island to face Division 1 leaders Alresford Town.
A win for Port would enable Vics to clinch top spot were they to win at Beatrice Avenue, although – of course – Newport have promotion ambitions themselves.
The County Town club had been unbeaten in the league until they lost to Cove last Saturday.
Midweek, Newport were unlucky to have been knocked out of the Wessex League Cup by fellow Island side East Cowes Vics after a penalty shootout.
Co-manager Joe Butcher said of his side’s ‘defeat’:
“It was a cup that neither side would’ve gone in to win and losing on penalties doesn’t really mean anything. If it was a league game, it was a draw.
“Once it goes to penalties, it’s a lottery.”
On his side’s prospects of returning to good form on Saturday, Butch says:
“It’s another tough game, against one of the undefeated sides in the league.
“There were a lot of positives to take from the Vics game, with them also having a 100% record in the league so far. We’ll look to carry that into Saturday.
“Like any game, we’ll go there with a plan and wanting to get a result.”
In the Wessex Premier, Cowes Sports travel to Bournemouth Poppies for the 2nd Saturday in succession.
Last Saturday, the Yachtsmen knocked the Poppies out of the FA Vase in an emphatic 0-5 win.
However, Cowes were brought back down to earth on Tuesday with a 3-6 home defeat to Brockenhurst.
The Yachtsmen have now conceded 18 goals in the 5 games they have played in the season to date (16 in the last 3 games) – more than any other Wessex Premier side.
Manager Max Draper says of Tuesday’s defeat and his side’s prospects at Bournemouth:
“Tuesday was a tough one to take considering how we reacted at half time and came out second half.
“At least 3 of the goals were self inflicted, and that makes it tough to take and killed the momentum every time we got up a head of steam.
“However, we know we aren’t playing badly at all, so when we cut out these errors, we will be a tough nut to crack again.
“This weekend, we will aim to get back on track again and get our league season up and running after all the cup games.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 31st August
Wessex Premier
Bournemouth (Poppies) v Cowes Sports
Division 1
Alresford Town v Newport IW
East Cowes Vics v Ringwood Town
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 31st August
Harwoods Division 1
Binstead & COB v Bembridge
Brading Town v W & B Sports
Cowes Sports Reserves v Osborne Coburg
Shanklin v Northwood SJ (13:00)
Division 2
Pan Community v Ryde Saints
Seaview v High Park
Combination 1
Bembridge Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
East Cowes Sports Reserves v Northwood SJ Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
West Wight Reserves v High Park Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge A v Ventnor A
Newchurch Reserves v Vectis Reserves
Niton Community Reserves v Sandown & Lake A
West Wight A v Osborne Coburg A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Osborne Coburg A
West Wight A v Oakfield Reserves
