Cowes Sports will be 7 games from playing in the final of the FA Vase at Wembley when they travel to Kent this afternoon (Saturday) to take on Bearsted in the First Round Proper of the competition.
In the First Qualifying Round, the Yachtsmen beat Wincanton Town on penalties at the Zilch Waste Stadium after drawing 5-5 over 90 minutes. In the Second Qualifying Round, they bested New Milton Town 2-1 at home.
Both Newport and East Cowes Victoria fell at the second hurdle – Vics at Sherborne Town and Port at Sturminster Newton United.
Bearsted currently lie 3rd in Southern Counties East Premier Division – the same level in the league pyramid as the Yachtsmen.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of his sides prospects:
“We as a club are taking a coach away Saturday, Committee, management team, players and supporters all together. We are looking forward to the game. We have never played or been to Bearsted FC, so it’s a challenge we are relishing.
“Bearsted have had a good start to the season; our boys had a excellent result last week to get a league campaign back on track, and they were superb, everyone one of them, so confidence is good and we are slowly getting injured players back at the right time. As usual, the lads have trained really well and we have a game plan, so hopefully we shall get a result and are in the hat on Monday for the next round draw, we are all up for it.
“I’ve been in football a long time, and anyone is beatable just like Stoneham last year – my teams are always up for it.”
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In the Wessex Premier, 18th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to 2nd-from-bottom New Milton Town.
The Brickies have been on a poor run of 7 successive defeats in the league; Vics are also in a bad losing streak stretching back 6 games since beating Christchurch on 6th September.
The game against New Milton will be an opportunity for the Victorians to get their season back on track – defeat would see the East Cowes side fall into the relegation places.
In Wessex Division 1, in-form Newport travel to Berkshire to face 12th-placed Kintbury Rangers.
Port started the season with 3 successive defeats but have won their last 5 league games to go 4th in the league.
Newport have strengthened their side with the signing of highly-rated midfielder Kudzi Mazambara from East Cowes Vics, who will go straight into the squad for today’s game.
Manager Joe Butcher says:
“Kintbury another unknown quantity really. We’ve got a few players out as well so again we’ll be going with a small squad, and I’m expecting a difficult game.”
There are no Wessex League teams playing at home today. However, Isle of Wight football fans have 4 games to choose between in the 2nd Round of the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup, with Brading Town, Shanklin, Ventnor and West Wight all drawn at home.
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 18th October
Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup
Brading Town v Osborne Coburg
Shanklin v Northwood SJ
Ventnor v Oakfield
West Wight v Bembridge & Vectis
Harwoods Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves v High Park
Division 2
Newchurch v Binstead & COB
Niton v Newport Reserves
Pan Community v ECS
Seaview v Sandown & Lake
Combination 1
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
ECS Reserves v West Wight Reserves
High Park Reserves v Oakfield Reserves
Osborne Coburg Reserves v Ventnor Reserves
W&B Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Combination 2
Binstead & COB Reserves v Bembridge & Vectis A
Oakfield A v West Wight A
Ryde Saints Reserves v Ventnor A
Sandown & Lake A v Newchurch Reserves
