16th-placed Cowes Sports host 14th-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins this afternoon, while East Cowes Victoria travel to Sherborne Town and Newport head to Cove.
The Yachtsmen return to Westwood after a run of away fixtures and will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Petersfield Town. Cowes then travelled to Millbrook in midweek with a youthful squad and were beaten 3-0.
Bemerton arrive on the Island in strong form, having won 4 of their last 6 matches, while the reverse fixture in Salisbury earlier in the season saw the sides share the points in a 1-1 draw.
Manager Mark Woodhouse says of his side:
“It’s been a great week for the youngsters at the club. To have so many 16-19 year olds getting Wessex League experience is great. The first team lads have had a much needed chance to rest ahead of 4 games in 7 days coming up. They are raring to go, and its great to be at home after a run of away games.
“With a gold cup final and a Wessex League Cup semi final lying ahead plus an opportunity to improve our league position, the motivation amongst the lads is really high.
“We know Bemy will be strong as they have had a great run of winning games and scoring lots of goals recently. They will be tough opposition.”
The Yachtsmen have learned their opponents in the Wessex League Cup – top-of-the-table Stoneham – with the game to be played at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
‘Woody’ has commented:
“It a huge achievement to have reached the semi final, and we are delighted to have been drawn at home. I know James at Stoneham well – we have huge respect for what they have achieved, but we also have the belief that when we are fully at it we can take on anyone at Westwood.
“We hope many Island football folk will turn out and show their support on that night and obviously today. It really is a great atmosphere down at Westwood, so I urge anyone to get down if they are around.”
Also in the Wessex Premier, 13th-placed East Cowes Victoria make the long journey to 10th-placed Sherborne Town in Dorset.
Vics have lost their last 2 games, at home to New Milton Town last Saturday and away to Laverstock & Ford midweek; Sherborne are on a run of poor form, having lost all their games in March to date.
In Wessex Division 1, 6th-placed Newport travel to North Hampshire to face 5th-placed Cove.
Port are currently on an 11-game unbeaten run; Cove have won 4 out of their last 6 games. The County Town club are 5 points behind today’s opponents with a game in hand.
Newport are currently without 10 first team players due to injury and suspension: Neo Lamb, Brad Young, Joe Hancott, Joe Butcher, Mike Thompsett, Matt Benford, Jack Reed, George Holbrook, Henry West and Kudzi Mazambara.
Player manager Joe Butcher says of the game:
“We’ll put the strongest team we have out and try and get a result. If we lose, we’ll just have to beat them when they come here.
” I wouldn’t say it’s a 6 pointer just yet – there’s 14 games left. Still a third of the season to play for – best not to hyper focus on one game.
“With so many games left, there’s plenty of twists and turns.”
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 14th March
Memorial Cup Quarter Final
East Cowes Victoria Athletics Reserves v Whitecroft & Barton Sports OFF
Junior A Quarter Final
Brading Town Reserves v Binstead & COB OFF
Junior B Quarter Final
Binstead & COB Reserves v West Wight A
Harwoods Division 1
Shanklin v Brading Town (13:00)
High Park v Osborne Coburg
Oakfield v Bembridge & Vectis
Division 2
Newchurch v East Cowes Sports
Niton v Ryde Saints OFF
Combination 1
High Park Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves
West Wight Reserves v Osborne coburg Reserves
Combination 2
Oakfield a v Bembridge & Vectis A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Newchurch Reserves
