Cowes Sports and Newport both have home Wessex League ties on the Isle of Wight this afternoon (Saturday).
In the Wessex Premier, 10th-placed Cowes Sports face 18th-placed Downton at the Zilch waste stadium.
The Yachtsmen go into the game on the back of 2 successive victories, which has propelled them into the top half of the table; the Robins are currently on a poor run of 5 successive defeats. The reverse fixture in Wiltshire ended honours even.
Co-manager Ian Potts is not anticipating an easy victory for his side, saying:
“Downton are scrapping for their lives at the moment and fighting for every point, as they are at the wrong end of the table and trying to get safe as soon as possible. They had a new manager recently, and he’s brought in a lot of players from a higher level, so they are slowly assembling a decent squad.
“We played them recently and drew 3-3 on a really muddy pitch in horrendous conditions, so it didn’t give a true reflection of either team. Saturday will be a completely different game.
“We don’t take any team lightly in the Wessex Premier,. We respect them and have to be on it as usual to try and get a result.
“A few months ago, that was us scrapping for every point, so we know what to expect.
Article continues below this advertisement “Hopefully, we can keep the good form going and try to keep moving up the table.”
In Wessex Division 1, 8th-placed Newport take on 5th-placed Hamworthy United at Beatrice Avenue.
Port still have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs, as the Hammers are ineligible for promotion this season. Newport are currently 7 points behind Ringwood Town in the 4th playoff position with 5 games remaining.
Co-manager Joe Butcher says of the fixture:
“It’s another hard game, Hamworthy have been in the top 6 most the season and play very good football. I think we’ve shown we can compete with the best sides in the league when we are at it.
“We were unfortunate last week (losing 0-2 to 2nd-placed Frimley Green), especially first half where we had some really good chances and only conceded from a deflected free kick.
“We’ve got 5 games left and we want to try and get 15 pts. Let’s see what happens.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 4th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to North Hampshire to face 15th-placed Whitchurch United.
The Jam Boys are a much improved side over recent games – unbeaten in 5 and on a run of 3 successive victories. Vics have drawn their last 3.
The Victorians – who trail leaders New Milton Town by 13 points – now only have a mathematical chance of automatic promotion. However, 9 points separate Vics from the closest team in contention for a playoff position: Fleetlands.
Wessex League table (top 8) below:
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 29th March
Wessex Premier
Cowes Sports v Downton
Division 1
Newport IW v Hamworthy United
Whitchurch United v East Cowes Victoria
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 29th March
Division 1
Binstead & COB v W&B Sports
Northwood SJ v West Wight
Shanklin v Vectis
Ventnor v Cowes Sports Reserves
Division 2
Ryde Saints v Sandown & Lake (13:00)
High Park v East Cowes Sports
Newchurch v Newport Reserves
Oakfield v Niton Community
Combination 1
Brading Town Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
East Cowes Sports Reserves v West Wight Reserves
High Park Reserves v Northwood SJ Reserves
Osborne Coburg Reserves v Bembridge Reserves
W&B Sports Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge A v Newchurch Reserves
Sandown & Lake A v Ventnor A
West Wight A v High Park A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Oakfield Reserves (15:30)
Niton Community Reserves v Osborne Coburg A
