Cowes Sports will hope to build on their winning start to 2026 at the Zilch Waste Stadium today (Saturday) as East Cowes Vics seek their first 3 points of the New Year at Beatrice Avenue.
Meanwhile, Newport travel to North Island hoping to do the double over the home side with their first victory in 2026.
The Yachtsmen currently occupy 13th spot in the Wessex Premier table with their win at Bournemouth on Saturday taking them above local rivals East Cowes Vics.
Cowes have now won 3 of their 4 games played since Mark Woodhouse took sole charge.
6th-placed Laverstock & Ford will prove difficult opponents and are currently on an unbeaten run of 5 games. The 2 sides have already clashed 3 times this season, with the Bulldogs knocking the Yachtsmen out of the FA Cup at the 2nd attempt and beating them 2-0 in the corresponding fixture in Salisbury.
Cowes also drew Laverstock in the Wessex League Cup, which has resulted in 1 abandoned game and numerous postponements due to the weather.
Manager Mark Woodhouse says of his side’s prospects:
“The lads have prepared well; they are excited about playing at home and hope for a decent crowd to get behind us. Morale is high after a great performance at Bournemouth
“We have played Lavy twice in the FA Cup early season, once in the league and in an abandonded Wessex League Cup game. We are yet to beat them, so we are keen to put that right this weekend. We have players returning to the squad and the standard of training has reflected that this week.”
“It’s a really tough game, but we are looking forward to it.”
Also in the Wessex Premier, 14th-placed East Cowes Victoria face 16th-placed Bournemouth Poppies.
Bournemouth lost to Cowes Sports last weekend, but beat high-flying Baffins Milton Rovers in their first game of the new year. Vics began 2026 with a 4-4 home draw against Hythe & Dibden but lost against Bemerton Heath Harlequins last Saturday.
Vics held Bournemouth to a goalless draw in the corresponding fixture at Victoria Park.
A club spokesperson has told supporters:
“The last 4 games at Beatrice Avenue have averaged over 8 goals a game, so come and enjoy what should be a cracker.”
In Wessex Division 1, 11th-placed Newport travel to Surrey to take on 8th-placed Frimley Green.
Port’s league position is deceptive – they have played far fewer games than all the teams above in the table. The points gap between Newport and 5th-placed Yateley United is is 12; however, the County Town club have 7 games – with a possible maximum 21 points – in hand.
In Port’s only game of 2026, they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw against Kintbury Rangers; Frimley Green are on a 4 game unbeaten run. Newport won the corresponding fixture at the Zilch Waste Stadium 3-2.
Manager Joe Butcher says of the game:
“Frimley are a very decent side and another very tough game especially up at their place. The forecast doesn’t look particularly great if I’m honest but hopefully it’s on. We can’t afford too many more off.”
In Isle of Wight football, W&B face High Park at Sandy Lane in the last quarter final of the Challenge Cup.
West Wight can go 6 points clear of W&B at the top of Harwoods Division 1, if they beat Oakfield at Camp Road.
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 17th January
Challenge Cup
W&B v High Park
Junior A
High Park Reserves v ECS
Junior B
Ryde Saints Reserves v Sandown & Lake A
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge & Vectis v Shanklin
Northwood SJ v Ventnor
West Wight v Oakfield
Division 2
Sandown & Lake v Seaview
Combination 1
ECS Reserves v W&B Reserves
Oakfield Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Combination 2
Newchurch Reserves v West Wight A
Oakfield A v Bembridge & Vectis A
