COWES Sports have a tough, but winnable Wessex League Premier game at home to eighth place Shaftesbury, at Westwood Park, this afternoon (Saturday) — but the weather could play a part in whether we see any football played. 

The Yachtsmen, with no league win in ten games, sit third bottom, but have played two more games than Pagham, a place and a point below them.

Shaftesbury lost 3-2 at Pagham last weekend.

In Division 1 of the Wessex League, Newport — with five games in hand on league leaders New Milton Town — could climb to third if they beat 15th place Romsey Town at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde, and other results go their way.

Port go into the game in improved form, with only one defeat in their last nine league games and not conceded in 469 minutes of Division 1 football, amassing five clean sheets since they were beaten by Petersfield Town on November 19.

It is a completely different tale for third bottom East Cowes Vics at the wrong end of the table.

Vics have a chance to end their disastrous 18-match winless run in all competitions with a trip to second bottom Amesbury Town.

Following their 2-1 loss to rock bottom Fleet Spurs at Beatrice Avenue last Saturday, which was the visitors' first points gained all season, fans will be demanding they pick up a positive result after the loss cut them seven points adrift of 17th placed Whitchurch United.

Island League Division 1 side Northwood St Johns are away at Knightswood in their fourth round Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy tie, postponed from last Saturday, while their reserve side entertain Ryde Saints Reserves in the postponed Hampshire FA Saturday Vase third round tie.

In the fourth round, Carisbrooke United will play Silchester Village, also postponed from last Saturday.

In Isle of Wight League Division 1, leaders and title holders Shanklin have a tough fixture at Bay rivals Brading Town.

A win for Shanklin would put them six points clear of second placed Whitecroft and Barton Sports, who have no fixture.

At Cowes Enterprise College, Sandown and Lake face Ryde Saints in the battle of the bottom two.

In Division 2, second placed East Cowes Vics Reserves host third placed Niton Community, while the league leaders, Ventnor, entertain Osborne Coburg. 

                                                             ALL THE FIXTURES

                                                       TOMORROW (SATURDAY)

Wessex League Premier — Cowes Sports v Shaftesbury; Wessex League, Division 1 — Amesbury Town v East Cowes Vics; Newport v Romsey Town.

Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy, fourth round — Knightswood v Northwood St Johns; Hampshire FA Saturday Vase, third round — Northwood St Johns Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves; Fourth round — Carisbrooke United v Silchester Village.

Island League Division 1 — Brading Town v Shanklin; Cowes Sports Reserves v Oakfield; ECS v Binstead & COB; Pan Community v Vectis; Sandown & Lake v Ryde Saints; West Wight v Bembridge; Division 2 — Wootton v Newchurch; East Cowes VIcs Reserves v Niton Community; High Park v Seaview; Ventnor v Osborne Coburg; Combination 1 — Bembridge Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves; Binstead & COB Reserves v Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves; Oakfield Reserves v Brading Town Reserves; Shanklin Reserves v West Wight Reserves; Vectis Reserves v ECS Reserves; Combination 2 — Newchurch Reserves v Pan Community Reserves; Niton Community Reserves v Bembridge A; Osborne Coburg Reserves v Ventnor Reserves.

                                                     TUESDAY, JANUARY 17

Wessex League, Division 1 — Andover Town v East Cowes Vics.

                                                  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18

Wessex League, Division 1 — Fleetlands v Newport.