UPDATE: All 3 Wessex League games are on as of 11:00, having passed pitch inspections. However, many Island League and Hampshire Cup games have been postponed (See below).
New manager Alex Smith will be hoping to secure his 1st win for 3rd-from-bottom East Cowes Vics against bottom club Fleet Spurs in the only Wessex League game to be played on the Isle of Wight today (Saturday).
Vics are currently on a poor run of 19 games without a win; Fleet Spurs have not picked up a single point in the season to date. Vics’ only victory in Wessex Division 1 was against Fleet Spurs back in August in the corresponding fixture in North Hampshire.
Vics manager Alex Smith says:
“Saturday brings a high-pressure game for us, far more important than the Newport game. Since then, we’ve had 2 terrific gym sessions and 2 very well-attended training sessions, so Saturday brings a real opportunity to show our continued progress.
“The pressure of the game will be balanced out by the faith we have in the comprehensiveness of our preparations and I know the players are excited for the challenge. Having brought in a new coaching staff, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a very different Fleet Spurs side to what their records suggest of them.
“There’s no hiding from the fact it’s a must win game for us and we’re all very much looking forward to the chance to fight for our first home win of the season.”
A pitch inspection will take place at 09:00 to see whether the game can go ahead on Saturday
Also, in Wessex Division 1, promotion-chasing Newport have an away trip to Folland Sports, who currently lie 1 place below them in the league table.
The Port won both their games in December and have been awarded the title Wessex Division 1 team of the month.
The Planemakers have had a mixed bag of results recently, having seen 2 draws, a win and a loss since November. However, they remain just one of only 2 teams to have collected maximum points from the County Town club this season, with a win at Beatrice Avenue back in August.
3 points for Port could see the Island side rise as high as 3rd in the table in a busy month full of crucial games. Newport have games in hand over most of the clubs above them in the league. Although they are 7 points behind leaders New Milton Town, they have 5 games in hand.
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen – who currently lie in 17th place – travel to 2nd-placed Stoneham.
Assistant manager Andy Brown says:
“It’s disappointing for everyone that we have missed so many fixtures due to weather (5 weeks); however, no matter what mother nature throws at us Saturday, our game is away to Stoneham and on their 4G pitch, so should go ahead and enable us to at least get 90 welcomed minutes under our belts!
“Our next 2 fixtures could not be harder going against the top 2 in the league. Both are flying high and scoring goals for fun, so it’s a massive test. Stoneham won their last game 9-1 on Tuesday and are pushing Portchester for top spot (who we then play on Tuesday).”
“We are obviously the underdogs, however a great opportunity and challenge for the lads. We will all be giving everything we have to put in a performance and upset the form book!”
5 Isle of Wight sides compete in the Hampshire cups this Saturday.
In the Hampshire Trophy, Northwood St Johns travel to Knightswood, and W&B face Andover New Street Swifts at Sandy Lane. In the Hampshire Vase, there is an all-Island tie between Northwood St Johns Reserves and Ryde Saints Reserves, Carisbrooke United have a home game against Silchester, and Ventnor travel to New Milton Reserves.
In Isle of Wight Division 1, Shanklin will have the opportunity to go 6 points clear at the top of the table if they can beat East Cowes Sports at the County Ground.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 7th January
Premier Division
AFC Stoneham v Cowes Sports
Division One
East Cowes Victoria v Fleet Spurs
Folland Sports v Newport (IoW)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 7th January
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy – 4th Round
Knightswood v Northwood St Johns OFF
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Andover New Street Swifts
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase – 3rd Round
Northwood St Johns Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves OFF
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase – 4th Round
Carisbrooke United v Silchester Village OFF
Meon Milton Reserves v Ventnor
Harwoods Renault Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v West Wight OFF
Oakfield v Brading Town OFF
Pan Community v Vectis
Ryde Saints v Binstead & COB OFF
Sandown & Lake v Bembridge OFF
Shanklin v ECS
Harwoods Renault Division 2
AFC Wootton v Yarmouth & Calbourne OFF
High Park v Seaview OFF
Niton Community v Newchurch OFF
Osborne Coburg v East Cowes Vics Reserves
Harwoods Renault Combination 1
Bembridge v Whitecroft & Barton Sports OFF
Binstead & COB v Sandown & Lake OFF
ECS v Oakfield
Vectis Brading Town Reserves OFF
West Wight v Shanklin OFF
Harwoods Renault Combination 2
Newchurch v Osborne Coburg OFF
Ventnor v Pan Community
No Fixture: AFC Wootton; Bembridge ‘A’; Niton Community
Niton Community v Newchurch is now OFF