Island Trio Targeting Strong End To The Season

Friday, 18 March 2022 07:05

Newport, East Cowes Vics and Cowes Sports will all be looking for a positive outcome to their respective Wessex League campaigns tomorrow (Saturday), knowing there is still much to play for between now and the end of the season.

Tricky Trip For Newport

Promotion hopefuls Newport face a tricky Division One game at Laverstock and Ford, who still have a chance of reaching the play-offs (3pm).

Having seen off both Totton and Eling and Fleet Spurs recently, Newport manager Steve Brougham accepts this trip to the mainland will provide a much sterner test.

Steve said:

“To be honest, we have got to go there and get a result. Even a draw would help keep us in the top five, but ideally we need a victory to keep us in with a chance of winning the title.

“Unfortunately, Jordan Browne will be missing because of an ankle injury, and Spike Pearce is out with a groin problem. But I’m sure other teams are also picking up knocks, so we have just got to get on with it.”

Although Laverstock are currently seventh in the table, their recent improvement still suggest they could sneak into the top five to contest the play-offs.

Steve added: “That just underlines how important the game is for both teams. We beat them 5-3 at home early in the season, but they are always a tough side, so it will be a big ask, as usual. But on our day we are good enough.”

Newport will be back in action on Tuesday evening when they take on Island League side Oakfield for a place in the semi-finals of the IW Gold Cup. The game can take place at Smallbrook Stadium now the floodlights there have been brought up to Wessex League standard, and will kick off at 7.30pm.

Vics Looking For Extra Spur!

East Cowes Vics will also be looking to bag maximum points from their Division One clash at Fleet Spurs (2.45pm). Vics will be buoyed by their midweek IW Gold Cup victory over Shanklin, and a victory over second-from-bottom Fleet could see them take a giant stride towards their end-of-season target of a 13th place finish.

Vics Manager, Richie Woodburn, said:

“It is a big game, because if we win, I think we will be able to put any fears of relegation behind us. We did well against Shanklin in midweek, who were always going to be difficult, but we are not taking Fleet for granted. Newport played their recently and didn’t find it easy. It’s a bobbly pitch, and Fleet have recruited well recently in a bid to get away from the relegation places. So it is not going to be easy for us, but we have six games to go this season, and I still have an eye on trying to finish as high as 13th.

“Considering the transition that has taken place at the club, I would look on that as a good season, particularly as we have blooded in a lot of youngsters and still managed to remain competitive. If we can get that one more victory I feel we need to be safe, then we can go out and enjoy our last few matches without too much pressure. But at the moment, I am not really looking beyond the Fleet game.”

Big Chance For Yachtsmen

Cowes Sports have the perfect opportunity to claw themselves further up the Premier League table when they face struggling Christchurch at Westwood Park tomorrow (3pm).

Although the Yachtsmen have steered well clear of any relegation threat, they know if they can beat Christchurch, and other results go their way, then they could find themselves leap-frogging over both United Services Portsmouth and Alresford Town to move up to 14th. Recent good form suggests they are more than capable of seeing off Christchurch, who are third bottom, eight points behind the Island side, with only two away wins in 17 attempts this season.

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