East Cowes Victoria v Stoneham is OFF.
East Cowes Victoria will play Stoneham at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Saturday) in the Wessex Premier, while Newport take on Aldermaston at the Zilch Waste Stadium in Division 1, weather permitting.
13th-placed Vics have been in excellent form of late, winning 4 and drawing 1 of their last 5 league games; top-of-the-table Stoneham are on a run of 4 straight wins since losing to Brockenhurst at the start of November.
Vics manager Alex Smith has said ahead of the fixture:
“We’re really excited to be playing the top teams at the moment. We are in a position where we can really attack those teams, whereas before selection and availability early in the season, we were a little bit cautious and finding our feet and a little bit passive in some games.
“When those good sides come here, we’re now full of belief. We know that we can go and make things really, really difficult. We can be a team on the front foot.
“We want to be in this division because we want to be asked the biggest questions. We’re always a team that have thrived on that. We want to be tested and we want to be pushed.
“We’re there to mix it with the best. But we’ve got to keep proving it.
Article continues below this advertisement “I’m looking forward to Stoneham coming here. We’re in a good vein of form, scoring plenty of goals.”
Newport v Aldermaston is OFF.
At the Zilch Waste Stadium, 9th-placed Newport take on 18th-placed Aldermaston.
Cowes Sports Reserves had their home game against Whitecroft & Barton Sports postponed last night, so this match may not go ahead.
Port are just 3 points below the playoff places with games in hand on all the teams above. Their home form has been excellent – they are still unbeaten at Westwood Park this season.
Hamworthy Rec v Cowes Sports is OFF.
The Yachtsmen travel to Dorset to face 7th-placed Hamworthy Recreation.
Cowes Sports’ management team are hoping for a reaction from their players following a 0-5 home defeat by 2nd-placed Petersfield Town midweek.
Joint manager Ian Potts says:
“The lads are hurting. Certain results this season haven’t been good enough. We’ve had a few injuries, but that’s football.
“It’s a long season. I’ve been here a long time. It’s how you react now.
“This is where you see your characters and leaders. I’ll keep doing the best I can like I always do. I’ll try to galvanise the lads.
“I’m the motivator. I’m the one who gets everyone up. We’ll have to regroup.
“Actions have got to speak louder than words. I won’t shirk a challenge. It’s got to take a lot of hard work. We’ll get there, but it’s going to take time. Let’s turn it round.”
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 29th November
Memorial Cup
Niton v Binstead & COB ON
Harwoods Division 1
Brading Town v Ventnor OFF
Northwood SJ v Bembridge & Vectis OFF
Shanklin v Osborne Coburg OFF
Division 2
Newchurch v ECS OFF
Sandown & Lake v Newport Reserves
Seaview v Ryde Saints
Combination 1
ECS Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Oakfield Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Osborne Coburg Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis Reserves
W&B Reserves v West Wight Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge & Vectis A v High Park A
Sandown & Lake A v Ryde Saints Reserves
West Wight A v Oakfield A
