AFTER pulling off a superb result mid-week against Cowes Sports in the semi-final of the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup, Whitecroft and Barton Sports face Newport in this afternoon's final.
A 200-plus crowd is expected for the final at Beatrice Avenue, the home of East Cowes Vics, which will kick off at 3pm.
W&B, unbeaten in all competitions this season, with the Harwoods Isle of Wight Division 1 title and the Isle of Wight County Press Challenge Cup so far under their belts, beat the Yachtsmen 3-1 on penalties to set up a fascinating final between two decent footballing sides.
Newport, seventh in Division 1 of the Sydenhams Wessex League under coach Andy Sampson, who has worked wonders to stablise the club following last season's relegation, have been in erratic form the past two months, but will be keen to end their season on a high.
W&B boss Steve Rayner, who will be without suspended captain Harry Ovnik and midfield dynamo Alex Wright to injury, said he was looking forward to the final and was keeping his team's feet firmly on the ground after their midweek triumph.
A win for W&B will give them a superb treble with two other trophies still to go for.
They are in the final of the Hampshire Intermediate Cup next month and the semi-final of the Isle of Wight Memorial Cup, against East Cowes Sports.
There are few fixtures left this season, but most of them of huge importance.
Carisbrooke United — as previously reported: https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/17598195.carisbrooke-united-on-brink-of-promotion-after-beating-saints/ — have the formality of playing rock-bottom side Yarmouth and Calbourne in Division 2 of the Island League, to grab the three points required to rubber-stamp their promotion back to Division 1 after nine years.
The match, at Clatterford Rec, will kick off at 2.30pm.
In Combination 1, only Brading Town Reserves can mathematically prevent Oakfield Reserves from winning the title and keep their own hopes alive if they can beat Ventnor Reserves at Watcombe Bottom.
TODAY’S FIXTURES (SATURDAY)
Harwoods Dacia IW Senior (Gold) Cup final: Newport v Whitecroft and Barton Sports (at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, KO 3pm).
Division 2: Carisbrooke United v Yarmouth and Calbourne; Oakfield v Niton Community.
Combination 1: Ventnor Reserves v Brading Town Reserves; West Wight Reserves v Binstead & COB Reserves.
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