Wessex Premier team-of-the-month Cowes Sports travel to Portsea Island to face Baffins Milton Rovers today (Saturday). The Yachtsmen are just 1 point behind 5th-placed Brockenhurst in the 4th playoff position but have 3 games in hand. This Saturday, Brockenhurst have a tough fixture away to Sherborne Town. Since losing to Brixham in the FA Vase in early November, the Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives have gone 8 games undefeated. However, Baffins will prove a stern test, having won 1-4 at Westwood Park in the corresponding game back in August. Manager Max Draper says of today’s match:
“Baffins will be another good test for us. They were clinical in both boxes when we played them in the first week of the season, and we were not, so fingers crossed, we have corrected that. It’s never an easy place to go, and their manager has them playing some good, physical football, so it will need us at 100% to get a result. “Sadly, we have lost Jimmy Mumford to a slight hamstring issue, which will be a loss with his ball carrying, but we do welcome back Caleb Neale. Some more positive news is that George Carter-Knight is closing in on a return to training after a hamstring pull a month or so back.”
In Wessex Division 1, East Cowes Vics will also be hoping to make up ground on the 5th-placed Cove when they travel to Dorset to play 14th-placed Verwood Town. Vics are 5 points behind the club in the play off place but have 1 game in hand. The East Cowes side now have a run of 7 fixtures against teams in the lower half of the table. However, manager Alex Smith cautions fans that there are no ‘easy’ opponents in Wessex Division 1. Alex has said:
“Whilst on paper people on the outside may say we have an ‘easier’ run of fixtures, we know that is absolutely not the case. I said last year that I believe the disparity in ability between the teams at the top and bottom of this league is far smaller than the table suggests. “Whilst we know we can go toe to toe with the top teams, we also know that the teams in the bottom third are exceptionally hard to beat, and you have to be at your best to take all 3 points. “This is a crucial phase of the season for us. We’re training very well and the intensity from the boys is outstanding. The squad quality and depth is terrific, creating tremendous competition for places. “We’re all enjoying the process and hopefully we can start stringing some performances together this month.”
Also in Wessex Division 1, 17th-placed Newport can do their landlords Vics a favour by taking 3 points from Cove at Beatrice Avenue. Newport have been inconsistent form since Christmas, having beaten Vics 4-1 in the Boxing Day derby, before drawing 1-1 with Fleetlands in their 1st game of the new year, and then going down 2-0 at Folland Sports. The Port’s 5th-placed opponents have won their last 2 games: 3-4 at Ash United and 2-1 at home to Frimley Green.
The Isle of Wight have 2 representatives left in the 4th round of the FA Trophy. This Saturday, W&B travel to Hampshire League Colden Common, and West Wight make the journey to Crofton Saints of the Gosport, Fareham & Solent Football League.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 13th January
Wessex Premier Baffins Milton Rovers v Cowes Sports Division 1 Newport (IoW) v Cove Verwood Town v East Cowes Victoria
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 13th January
Hampshire Trophy Colden Common v W&B Crofton Saints v Bembridge IOW Junior A Cup Osborne Coburg v W&B Sports Reserves Division 1 Cowes Sports Reserves v VentnorNorthwood SJ v Brading TownShanklin v Binstead & COB Division 2 Niton Community v AFC WoottonSandown & Lake v Ryde Saints Combination 1 Bembridge Reserves v Sandown & Lake ReservesBinstead & COB Reserves v Shanklin ReservesBrading Town Reserves v West Wight ReservesEast Cowes Sports Reserves v Northwood SJ ReservesVentnor Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserve Combination 2 AFC Wootton Reserves v High Park ReservesRyde Saints Reserves v Bembridge ASeaview Reserves v Newchurch ReservesWest Wight A v Ventnor A
