Island Teams Hoping To Gain Points This Weekend

Cowes Sports, East Cowes Vics and Newport are all in Wessex League action tomorrow (Saturday), with all three Isle of Wight clubs anxious for points, but for differing reasons. 

Vics Hope To See Off Relegation Threat

East Cowes Vics hope to further boost their chances of avoiding a Division One relegation dogfight when they take on Ash United at Beatrice Avenue (3pm).

Although Vics stand currently fourth from bottom, the club immediately below them, Fareham-based Infinity FC have been forced to withdrawn from the league. As a result, it drops Vics one place for the time being, but now only two clubs will now be relegated, and all the points teams have so far picked up at Infinity’s expense will be taken off them.

Vics Manager, Richie Woodburn, said:

“That will benefit us, as we lost to Infinity earlier in the season, while most of the teams around us, beat them. So in a way, it’s a three-point bonus for us. But our immediate aim is to beat Ash United, one of the sides just above us, and I have virtually a full squad available. A win over Ash would put us within striking distance of them, but if we lost we will have a real fight to finis above them. We beat them 4-3 at their place after being 4-0 up, and to be honest, we have lost about 12 points this season due to conceding late goals, which we must stop doing.”

Another bonus for Vics is the signing of promising young keeper Jamie Linnington from Cowes Sports as replacement for Alex Ram, who is likely to be out for a month through injury.

Richie added:

“Jamie is a very good young keeper who has played several games this season for Cowes, and this is a good chance for him to establish himself in our team.”

Newport ‘Must Win All Home Games’

Newport will be looking to strengthen their Division One promotion claims when they take on Fawley at Smallbrook Stadium (1.45pm). Newport gained a vital midweek point at promotion rivals Folland Sports.

Manager, Steve Brougham reflecting: “That was one of our hardest games of the season, and we did well to get a draw. We defended well as a team and kept our concentration. But even though Fawley are in the bottom half of the table, we need a similar performance against them. 

“We need to win all our home games. We are not going to miss out on promotion by drawing at Folland, but we could do if we start dropping points at home. No game in this division is a ‘gimme’ and it we allow our attention levels to drop we will come unstuck. If, at the end of the season, we don’t win the title, then I want to look back and say that we gave it our best shot, not that we didn't make it because we dropped points against lower mid-table teams at our place. Fawley have only been losing games by the odd goal in the past few weeks, so we know it is going to be a tough one.”

Newport will be without skipper Martin McDonough through suspension, while Joe Hancock (hamstring) and Joe Craig (ribs) are both doubts, and will face late fitness tests. 

Yachtsmen Aim To See Off United Services Portsmouth

Cowes Sports will be looking for a three-point boost to help erase the memory of their midweek defeat, when they face United Services Portsmouth in the Premier League at Westwood Park (2.30pm). 

The Yachtsmen are virtually safe from being involved in a late fight against relegation, and a victory over USP would take them to within two points of their opponents, with a game in hand. But manager Max Draper insists his players will have to be ‘bang up for it’ if they are to get the right result. 

Max said:

“After Tuesday’s efforts again Brockenhurst it’s important we don’t get too down-hearted. Their manager has put together a strong, organised and aggressive team and they were clinical. We had chances, but sadly couldn’t match their intensity, which is rare for us.

“We head into tomorrow’s game with the right mindset knowing it’s a big game for us and is one we have looked at to help towards our goal for the season, of finishing at least 14th. 

“Fingers crossed, we will have a few faces back in the fold and will put in a good performance. USP have had some good results, and sit close to us in the table, so it’s a game we have to be bang up for again.”