In Wessex Division 1, 10th-placed Newport make the journey to the team 6 points and 1 place above in the league table – Hamworthy United.
The game is almost certain to be played – despite the weather – as the Hammers have a 3G pitch.
Newport have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their games in January. Their last match at Westwood Park saw them beat Amesbury Town 3-0.
Hamworthy have had some inconsistent results of late, beating 3rd-placed Colden Common 0-1 away but losing 2-1 to 3rd-from-bottom Lymington Town in their last game.
Manager Joe Butcher says of Port’s prospects:
It will be a difficult game; they’ve had an on off season but they have a very good front line and one of the best goal scorers in the league (Bailey Rowe) so they are always a dangerous team to play. I don’t see the artificial pitch as a disadvantage – we train on 3G every week.”
Christchurch v East Cowes Victoria is OFF.
In the Wessex Premier, 12th-placed East Cowes Victoria travel to the team 1 place below – Christchurch – weather permitting.
Vics have been in inconsistent form since beating Cowes 0-1 in the Boxing Day derby, with a draw, defeat and win in January; Christchurch have lost all their games in 2026 to the weather – their last outing saw them beaten 2-1 by Portland United on Boxing Day.
Cowes Sports have had their game against Sherborne Town at the Zilch Waste Stadium postponed.
W&B against Brading Town is OFF
Isle of Wight football sees the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.
In one semi-final, Shanklin take on West Wight at the County Ground for the 2nd time in 8 days, hoping to repeat last Saturday’s performance in which they beat the Division 1 leaders 2-0. In the other semi final, Champions and Challenge Cup holders W&B face Brading Town at Sandy Lane.
Victories for both home sides would see a repeat of last year’s Challenge Cup final in which W&B defeated Shanklin 3-0 at Beatrice Avenue.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 31st January
Challenge Cup semi finals
Shanklin v West Wight
W&B v Brading Town OFF
Junior A Cup 2nd round
East Cowes Victoria Reserves v Newport IW Reserves OFF
ECS v High Park Reserves
Junior B Cup quarter finals
Newchurch Reserves v High Park A OFF
Oakfield A v Bembridge & Vectis A OFF
Sandown & Lake A v Ryde Saints Reserves OFF
Harwoods Division 1
High Park v Osborne Coburg OFF
Northwood SJ v Ventnor OFF
Oakfield v Bembridge & Vectis OFF
Division 2
Niton v Ryde Saints OFF
Combination 1
Osborne Coburg Reserves v Shanklin Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v W&B Reserves OFF
West Wight Reserves v Brading Town Reserves OFF
Combination 2
West Wight A v Binstead & COB Reserves OFF
