The biggest match in the Wessex League on the Isle of Wight today (Saturday) sees an inconsistent Cowes Sports side take on Moneyfields at Westwood Park. The Yachtsmen are still well within striking distance of a playoff place – lying just 1 point behind 5th-placed Brockenhurst but with a game in hand on the New Forest club. 7th-placed Cowes Sports have failed to take advantage of games against opposition from the lower half of the table, losing to 15th-placed Bournemouth and 3rd-from-bottom Christchurch in recent weeks. This Saturday, the Westwood Park side will be without experienced keeper Ed Hatt, who is suspended after being sent off against Bournemouth Poppies. But the Yachtsmen appear capable of raising their game against top-of-the-table opposition and have a formidable record at Westwood Park. Earlier in the season, the Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives thrashed Moneys 6-1 at Westwood Park in the Velocity League Cup. However, their Portsmouth-based opponents only fielded a 2nd-string squad. 2nd-placed Moneyfields have won 22 of their 24 games in this year’s campaign and have been undefeated in the league since losing to Stoneham back in August. Cowes Sports will be hoping for a big crowd at Westwood Park as they attempt to claw their way back into the playoff places. Manager Max Draper says:
“Probably 1 of if not the toughest games of the season. They’re on an incredible run and considering the situation they’re in it’s some effort. “Right now, they’re probably favourites for the title with recent results. We are aiming to just find form again and consistency, so here’s to hoping tomorrow is the day we do and we get the kick which has been against us recently.”
Wessex Premier table (top) below: 
On the other side of the Medina, 5th placed East Cowes Vics face 2nd-from-bottom Aldermaston at Beatrice Avenue. Vics have been in good form in recent weeks, having gone 6 games unbeaten since losing to Verwood Town in January. The East Cowes side won the corresponding fixture in Berkshire 1-3. Aldermaston are currently in poor form, having lost their last 8 successive league fixtures. Vics will be hoping for a convincing victory backed by a sizeable crowd to bolster their position in the playoff places. However, manager Alex Smith believes there are no ‘easy’ league games. Alex told Island Echo:
Also in Division 1, 16th-placed Newport travel to North Hampshire to face 8th-placed Whitchurch United. Wessex Division 1 table below: 
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday, 9th March
Premier Cowes Sports v Moneyfields Division 1 East Cowes Vics v AFC Aldermaston Whitchurch United v Newport IW
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday, 9th March
Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup Bembridge v Brading Town Memorial Cup Shanklin v Binstead & COB Junior A Cup Brading Town Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves Junior B Cup Bembridge A v AFC Wootton ReservesHigh Park Reserves v Niton Community Reserves Harwoods Division 1 East Cowes Sports v VentnorNorthwood SJ v VectisWest Wight v Cowes Sports ReservesW&B Sports v High ParkDivision 2 Newport Reserves v Ryde SaintsOsborne Coburg v Niton CommunitySeaview v Newchurch OFFCombination 1 Northwood SJ Reserves v East Cowes Sports ReservesSandown & Lake Reserves v Bembridge ReservesVectis Reserves v W & B Sports ReservesVentnor Reserves v West Wight Reserves Combination 2 Newchurch Reserves v Seaview ReservesRyde Saints Reserves v West Wight A
