Big Weekend For Island's Wessex League Football Teams

All three of the Island’s Wessex League teams are in action tomorrow (Saturday), looking to pick up valuable points, with Cowes Sports at home in the Premier League, East Cowes Vics at Verwood in Division One and Newport away to struggling Fleet Spurs. 

Yachtsmen Chasing Points 

Cowes Sports take on Blackfield and Langley at Westwood Park in the Premier League, hoping to build on their recent encouraging form. The Yachtsmen held fourth-placed Bashley to a single goal defeat in midweek, after giving leaders Hamworthy a real run for their money, before narrowly losing, last weekend. 

Yachtsmen manager Max Draper will be looking at tomorrow’s game as a winnable one against a side who are only four places above them in the table.

Max confirmed:

“After a couple of good, promising performances against two of the top sides in the league, we will be looking to perform and pick up points this weekend. Considering we have played two top sides with a depleted side missing John McKie, Finley Phillips, Jake Watson, Conor White and long-term absentee Connor Furmidge, we have given a good account of ourselves.

“But it’s given us a chance to have a look at a few different options and people have stepped up and done themselves proud. Ed Hatt has been outstanding in goal in recent weeks and Jack Barsdell is showing he can reach another level in an unfamiliar position. Fingers crossed we can get players back from injury and we can pick up some points to finish the season strong.”

Max added:

“Blackfield are one of the best footballing sides in the league, and on their day they are a daunting prospect. We have to prepare right and be at our best, with a cutting edge, to get anything from this fixture.” 

Winnable Game For Newport  

Newport will be looking to improve their goals-for tally in Division One when they visit next-to-bottom Fleet Spurs. Even though Newport have to travel to the mainland, they will be taking on a team who have won just two of their 13 home league matches, and have conceded 28 goals in the process. The Island side will be full of confidence following their 4-2 midweek victory over bottom club Totton and Eling, and will be hoping to seize this opportunity to further make up ground on the three teams above them in the table.

Newport Manager, Steve Brougham, said:

“After beating Totton, we need to go and do the same against Fleet. If we are going to compete near the top of the table, these are the games we have to win. Several of the top teams have still got to play each other, so there’s still plenty of time for things to change at the top.

"We have a couple of big games coming up against Laverstock and Ford and Andover New Street over the next couple of weeks, and we still have to play Andover Town at home. Our aim is to finish as high as possible and if we don’t win the league, we want to finish second, but the prime aim is to finish in the top five to earn a place in the play-offs. We have to make sure we win the games we should win, and then pick up points from the other games.”

Massive Week For Vics 

East Cowes Vics visit Verwood in Division One, and will be looking for another workmanlike display after holding promotion hopefuls Folland Sports to a one-goal defeat in midweek. Verwood are currently tucked in mid-table with little to play for, and have been fielding many of their reserves and youth team players, which could provide the opportunity for Vics to pick up points. 

Vics Manager, Richie Woodburn, said:

“This is a massive week for us, and one of the most important of the season. If we can take points off Verwood, and then beat next-to-bottom Fleet Spurs next weekend, it will virtually end any fears of relegation, and would provide the opportunity for us to get up towards mid-table.

“In between those two games we also face Shanklin in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup on Tuesday evening for a place in the semi-final. We will be taking nothing for granted, because I know Shanklin are a very good team who have already reached the final of the Hampshire FA Trophy.”

Richie added:

“I felt we were unlucky not to get something out of the Folland game, and because Verwood are struggling a bit with finances, and are bottom of the current-form table, I think it’s the perfect game for us, with still a lot to play for between now and the end of the season.”