Both Cowes Sports and Newport IW FC have home ties today (Saturday).
At the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park), the Yachtsmen will be seeking their first league win of the season to date against unbeaten Andover New Street, who currently lie 6th in the Wessex Premier table.
The Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives suffered an unlucky defeat in the Velocity Wessex League Cup on Wednesday evening, losing 3-2 at Division 1 New Milton Town after having taken an early 0-2 lead. New Milton equalized and scored their winning goal in injury time.
At Beatrice Avenue, Newport will seek to build on their impressive 2-3 victory at Wessex Premier Millbrook in the Hampshire Senior Cup when they take on 16th placed Fawley at Beatrice Avenue.
Co-manager Joe Butcher said of his side’s win:
“From what I could tell, Milbrook were mostly full strength with only Mark Barker missing. Jamie White started the game, who is the joint top scorer in the Wessex Prem.
“First half, we were really good, then dug in 2nd half and saw it out. We’ve had a tough start and what I would say a decent start to the season, but we’ll be looking to turn draws into wins over the next 4 or 5 games this month.”
Port now have a plum tie against National League Aldershot at Beatrice Avenue on 17th September in the next round of the Hants Cup.
Joe says:
“Looking forward to Aldershot, will be a good chance for the lads to test themselves against a very good outfit, I imagine it’ll be their u23s but should still be a very good standard.
“It could be a difficult task, but it’s not every day the lads get to play full time players, so we’ll just go out there and enjoy it and see what happens.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, East Cowes Vics – who were without a game midweek – travel to 14th-placed Verwood Town, hoping to bounce back from their uncharacteristic home defeat to Ringwood Town last Saturday.
The Victorians – who have the highest points-per-game average in their division – currently lie in 4th place, with a game in hand on the 3 sides above them in the table.
Manager Alex Smith says of his side’s prospects:
“Verwood is a very difficult place to go – I don’t believe we’ve won there since 2011. For one reason or another, it’s a ground I’ve never personally been to.
“We know how tough the challenge is, but we’ve had a great week of preparation, and we’ll be looking to bounce back after last week’s disappointing result.”
Exciting new signing Scott Jones will not be making the trip to Dorset today.
Alex says:
“Scott won’t be travelling with the squad, having not had a preseason, he isn’t yet match ready – he’ll need a little more time.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 7th September:
Wessex Premier
Cowes Sports v Andover New Street
Division 1
Newport IW v Fawley
Verwood Town v East Cowes Victoria
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 7th September
Challenge Cup 1st round
Ventnor v Cowes Sports Reserves
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge v Shanklin
Osborne Coburg v Vectis
West Wight v Northwood St Johns
Division 2
Newport Reserves v Pan Community
Oakfield v Ryde Saints
Sandown & Lake v High P\ark
Seaview v Niton
Combination 1
Bembridge v Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Binstead & COB v Sandown & Lake
Brading Town v Ventnor
Northwood St Johns v West Wight
Shanklin v ECS
Combination 2
High Park A v Oakfield
Niton v West Wight A
Ryde Saints v Sandown & Lake A
Ventnor A v Newchurch
