The Yachtsmen take on unbeaten top-of-the-table AFC Portchester in a Wessex Premier fixture at Westwood Park tomorrow evening (Tuesday).
Portchester have won 18 of their 20 games in the season so far. Leading scorer Brett Pitman has hit the back of the net 35 times in 26 games. Fellow striker Scott Jones – from the Isle of Wight – has bagged 8 goals in 10 games.
In their last game against Hamble, Portchester were trailing 0-2 in the 74th minute and down to 9 men when their floodlights failed, leading to the game being abandoned. However, Wessex League secretary Greg Dickson has dismissed suggestions on social media that 75 minutes was the cut-off point for games being abandoned as “pure fantasy”.
It remains to be seen whether the game will be replayed or the result will stand.
Cowes are on a poor run of form at the moment having failed to win in their past 11 games and are in danger of falling into the bottom 2 relegation places.
Portchy won 1-8 on their last visit to the Island when they beat Vics in the FA Vase. However, they would be unwise to imagine they only need to turn up to win on the Island. The last time they played at Westwood Park, they suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat.
Cowes assistant manager, Andy Brown, says:
“Porchester as we know are the top side, unbeaten in 20 games, so fixtures don’t come any tougher than this one. Although doubtful, we hope the weather will be kind and again look forward to the challenge plus the experience of playing top players. Our aim will be to maintain focus, intensity and fighting spirit.”
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In Wessex Division1, promotion-chasing Port face 16th-placed Ash United at Smallbrook stadium in only their 2nd game this year.
The County Town club are currently on a good run of form, having won their last 3 fixtures. A win could see them overtake Downton to go 3rd.
Ash are currently on an 11-game winless run, with their last victory coming on 22nd October.
Both games kick off at 19:45.
