11th-placed Cowes Sports travel to 18th-placed Blackfield & Langley today, hoping to reach the top half of the Wessex Premiership.
The Yachtsmen are currently on an unbeaten run of 5 games since their heavy 8-0 defeat to Hamworthy Recreation at the end of November.
There has been a complete change of fortunes for the Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premiership representatives under the management of Ian Potts and Mark Woodhouse, since Cowes Sports were bottom-of-the-league at the end of September, having gone 9 games without a win from the start of the season.
Victory could see the Yachtsmen go as high as 9th in the Wessex Premiership table.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of his side’s chances:
“We face another tough test against a Blackfield & Langley side, who are fighting for every point in there current position. They have recently got a new manager and some new players, so they are a bit of a unknown quantity.
“We are on a good run of performances and results at the moment; all the lads are working hard, and hopefully we can carry that on with another decent result on Saturday.
“We have got a few games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks, so we need our whole squad more than ever.”
In Wessex Division 1, 7th-placed Newport will be hoping to maintain the momentum of their 5-2 win against Romsey midweek when they travel to 13th-placed Aldermaston in Berkshire.
Co-manager Joe Butcher said of his side’s impressive midweek victory:
“It was a lot better, intensity was better, kept the ball better, created more chances and finishing. Just all around a lot better performance.
“To be honest, I think we could’ve scored one or two more.”
However, Joe is not anticipating an easy win, saying:
“It’s a tough place to go and if it’s on, it’ll probably be in tough conditions as well.”
On Newport’s chances of reaching the playoff spots, Joe says:
“It’s not in our hands now, so we will see. We’ll keep plugging away and see where we end up.”
Top scorer Ji Nash – who was unavailable midweek – will be returning to the Newport squad, but Joe Craig – who is injured – will not feature in the side.
2 Newport squad players have now left the team as they live on the mainland, with Scott Barron moving to Lymington Town and Jared Wetherick joining Whitchurch United.
Also in Wessex Division 1, 4th-placed East Cowes Victoria take on 11th-placed Cove at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics have been in good form of late with a run of 5 successive victories since losing 2-1 at Fleetlands on 14th December.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 25th January
Wessex Premier
Blackfield & Langley v Cowes Sports
Division 1
Aldermaston v Newport IW
East Cowes Victoria v Cove
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 25th January
HFA Trophy
Vectis v Ringwood Town
Tadley Calleva v Bembridge
HFA Vase
Sarisbury Sparks v West Wight Reserves
Junior B Cup
Oakfield Reserves v Ventnor A
Sandown & Lake A v Osborne Coburg A
West Wight A v Bembridge A
Harwoods Division 1
Binstead & COB v Shanklin
Brading Town v Ventnor
Osborne Coburg v West Wight
W&B Sports v Northwood SJ
Division 2
Newchurch v Oakfield
Newport Reserves v High Park
Pan Community v Seaview
Ryde Saints v East Cowes Sports
Combination 1
Bembridge Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
High Park Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves
Northwood SJ Reserves v Brading Town Reserves
Sandown & Lake Reserves v Ventnor Reserves
Shanklin Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves
Combination 2
Vectis Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves