Division 1 champions Whitecroft & Barton Sports face league leaders Ventnor at Sandy Lane this afternoon (Saturday).
Ventnor currently occupy top spot with 8 wins from 9 games, 3 points ahead of reigning champions W&B.
However, W&B have a 100% record in the season to date, having won all 7 of their fixtures. W&B also have 2 games in hand on the league leaders.
W&B inflicted Ventnor’s only defeat of the season, when they won 1-2 at Watcombe Bottom.
Can Ventnor avenge their opening day loss?
Ventnor manager Gary Gee says:
“I go into every game expecting a good performance. If we do that, we will give anyone a game
W&B are a very good side and hard to break down, but we are in good form, so I expect a very good and close game.”
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In the only Wessex League game on the Island this Saturday, Wessex Division 1 leaders East Cowes Victoria play 15th-placed Lymington Town at Beatrice Avenue.
East Cowes Vics are currently on an unbeaten run of 11 games; Lymington are in indifferent form, having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 6 games.
Vics manager Alex Smith says of the tie:
“Results at home haven’t quite been we wanted so far this year, whilst our away form has been outstanding in the league and cups. Lymington will be confident of causing us problems after some very positive results of late.
“We’ll need to find the intensity out of possession that got us through the game at Fairford and the quality on the ball we showed against Fleetlands.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 7th-placed Newport face the team immediately below in the table: Ringwood Town.
If results go their way, a win could see Port reach the playoff positions.
Newport are on a good run having gone 5 league games unbeaten; Ringwood Town are the only Wessex League side to have taken 3 points from East Cowes Vics this season.
Port co-manager Joe Butcher says of the game:
“It’s a good opportunity again for us, we have a game in hand on them so it’s a chance to put a bit of a gap between the chasing pack for playoffs and obviously keep us in the hunt
“They’ve beaten some top sides like Vics and New Milton this year but also lost to some lesser sides, so potentially they are a bit hit and miss.
“We’ve been undefeated now for 5 games in the league, so we’ll be looking to extend that.”
In the Wessex Premier, 13th-placed Cowes Sports travel to 17th-placed Laverstock & Ford.
After a poor start to the season, the Yachtsmen have been in excellent form of late, having won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 games; in contrast, the Bulldogs have gone down to 3 successive defeats.
Manager Ian Potts says of the game:
“We are just taking every game as it comes. Morale in the camp is good, and the lads have been brilliant in training and the recent games.
“This is another tough game against Laverstock, which we are looking forward to.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 26th October
Wessex Premier
Laverstock & Ford v Cowes Sports
Wessex Division 1
East Cowes Victoria v Lymington Town
Ringwood Town v Newport IW
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 26th October
Division 1
Brading Town v Bembridge
Vectis v West Wight
W&B Sports v Ventnor
Division 2
Pan Community v Niton Community
Ryde Saints v High Park
Sandown & Lake v Newport Reserves
Seaview v Newchurch
Combination 1
East Cowes Sports Reserves v W & B Sports Reserves
High Park Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Northwood SJ Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
Ventnor Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Combination 2
High Park A v Newchurch Reserves
Niton Community Reserves v Osborne Coburg A
Oakfield Reserves v Vectis Reserves
Ventnor A v Sandown & Lake A
West Wight A v Bembridge A
