All 3 Isle of Wight Wessex League sides – Cowes Sports, Newport, and East Cowes Vics – will be playing on the Isle of Wight this Bank Holiday Monday (3rd January).
In the Wessex Premier, 15th-placed Cowes Sports will be hoping to put an abject performance against Moneyfields last Monday behind them (a 1-5 defeat) when they take on 7th-placed Shaftsbury at Westwood Park. However, beating the Dorset-based side will be no easy task for the Yachtsmen. ‘The Rockies’ are currently on a 9-game unbeaten run and have only lost 1 game on their travels in the current season to date. Shaftesbury’s most recent defeat came at title favourites Hamworthy United on 2nd November.
Kick off at Westwood Park is scheduled at the usual time of 15:00, but supporters are advised to check on the day of the game.
In Wessex League 1, 3rd-placed Newport take on 2nd-from-bottom Totton & Eling at Smallbrook.
Newport v Totton & Eling postponed.
The Port were unbeaten in December, their last defeat coming against leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins back in November (1-3). Totton & Eling are currently on a miserable run of 9 successive defeats, with their last victory (5-1 v Infinity) coming back in October. ‘The Millers’ have twice conceded 8 goals during their long winless run, so Newport supporters will be hoping for a goal fest at Smallbrook.
Newport co-manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“We are hoping the game will go ahead this Monday as we were really looking forward to the Vics game over the Xmas break, but obviously the weather stopped that. We go into this game with a fully fit squad available unless we suddenly get a covid outbreak! We are hoping to have a good start to 2022 with the Port getting a win under our belts and continuing for our push for a top 5 place this season.”
Newport v Totton & Eling kicks off at the earlier time of 14:00.
At the other end of the Wessex League 1 table, 17th-placed East Cowes Vics face 16th placed Fawley.
Vics currently lie just 1 place above the League 1 drop zone.
Manager Richie Woodburn said:
“This is a massive 6-pointer to start the year for us. We are both on 17pts and looking to get a few points buffer from the sides at the very bottom of the table. Covid has ripped through our squad over the festive period, so pre-match preparations are very fluid currently. Encounters between both sides recently have been close affairs, though Fawley enter the fixture in the better form, but we have home advantage.
“Skipper Liam Newbold is still suspended along with Jamie Wright. Ryan Gregory and Aiden White should return after isolation if they produce a negative result over the next few days as does Brandon Hayward after serving his suspension. Plus, we are hoping to introduce new signing Freddie Knowles to add some guile and experience to our forward line.”
Kick-off at Beatrice Avenue is at the earlier time of 14:45.
The postponed derby between Newport and East Cowes Vics that had been scheduled for 27th December, will now be played on Tuesday 25th January at Beatrice Avenue. Kick-off is at 19:45.
