Wessex Division 1 team-of-the-month East Cowes Victoria face AFC Aldermaston in the only Wessex League fixture on the Isle of Wight this afternoon (Saturday).
4th-placed Vics have won all their games this year, conceding a single goal. Their opponents have taken 6 points from their last 2 games, including a 3-1 home win over Newport.
The Victorians have a run of 4 vital fixtures in February after taking on the Atom Men.
On Tuesday (4th February), they play the strongest and reputedly richest side in the Wessex League – AFC Portchester – in the Quarter Final of the Wessex League Cup at Beatrice Avenue.
On Saturday (8th February), they travel to North Hampshire to take on 2nd-place Alresford Town. The following Saturday (15th February), the East Cowes side host league leaders New Milton Town.
Finally, on the 18th, Vics play Newport in the semi final of the Gold Cup at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park)..
Island Echo caught up with Vics manager Alex Smith to request his comments about what must be the most important month in the club’s recent history.
First, we asked about the fitness of injured players Jacob Reynolds, Liam Triggs and Aedan Coode.
Alex responded:
“Yak (Jacob Reynolds) still has a little bit of pain, so we’re monitoring him and hopefully he won’t be out too much longer. Triggsy is ready to go. Coodey is still pretty sore after having his stitches, but we hope he’ll heal quickly.”
We enquired about Vics’ priorities regarding the 3 competitions they are involved in.
Alex replied:
“I’m an ambitious person and am completely committed to pushing as hard as we can in all competitions.
“We still have the opportunity to compete for three trophies, and there’s no reason for us not to try and win all three.
“Of course, it’s a huge task but that’s all the more reason to strive for greatness.”
We asked about Vics’ prospects in the Wessex League Cup Quarter Final.
Alex said:
“Portchester are definitely beatable but are also definitely an excellent side.
“I’ve been able to see them play a few times, so we’ll prepare as well as we can and relish the opportunity to be underdogs in a huge game for the club.”
Finally, we asked whether Vics have a realistic chance of catching top-of-the-table New Milton Town to take the only automatic promotion spot.
Alex told Island Echo:
“New Milton are an excellent side and are on an outstanding run, having not lost a league game since August.
“However, we still have to play them twice, and those games will have a big impact on the way table looks at the end of April.
UPDATE: Totton & Eling v Newport IW is OFF (waterlogged pitch).
Also in Wessex Division 1, 7th-placed Newport travel across the Solent to play 13th-placed Totton & Eling.
Miller Park is prone to flooding, with Totton having not played a home game since 14th December, so the fixture is at risk of being called off.
Co-manager Joe Butcher says of the game:
“Totton & Eling are a decent side that don’t concede many. We put on a really good performance at home against them (winning 5-1), so looking for the same. We’ve been a bit inconsistent of late, so we’ll be wanting to put that right.
“I’ve been told we get any rain tomorrow, it’ll probably be off, so let’s see what the weather brings.”
UPDATE: Baffins Milton #Rovers v Cowes Sports is OFF (waterlogged pitch).
In the Wessex Premier, 11th-placed Cowes Sports go to Portsmouth to play 7th-placed Baffins Milton Rovers.
Baffins are a club in transition after the departure of manager Danny Thompson following their 6-0 defeat to Christchurch last Saturday.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of the match:
“We expect them to be up for the game, and we would anticipate a huge desire from them to impress the incoming manager.
“We have worked hard this week to learn from last week (1-0 defeat at Blackfield & Langley).
“As a squad, we are keen to learn and will put the work in on the training pitch to make the necessary improvements.”
“We are excited for the challenge and look forward to what is always at tough away fixture.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 1st February
Wessex Premier
Baffins Milton Rovers v Cowes Sports OFF
Division 1
East Cowes Victoria v AFC Aldermaston
Totton & Eling v Newport IW OFF
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 1st February
Hampshire Trophy
Vectis v Ringwood Town Development
Hampshire Vase
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Emsworth Town
West Wight Reserves v Bournemouth Electric
Memorial Cup
W&B Sports v Ventnor.
High Park v East Cowes Sports
Junior B
Oakfield Reserves v Ventnor A
Harwoods Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Osborne Coburg v Brading Town
Division 2
Niton Community v Oakfield
Pan Community v Newchurch
Sandown & Lake v Ryde Saints
Combination 1
ECS Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Brading Town Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
High Park Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Bembridge Reserves
Combination 2
High Park A v Osborne Coburg A
Newchurch Reserves v Niton Reserves
Bembridge A v Sandown & Lake A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Vectis Reserves
