Football: A look ahead to this weekend's matches involving Isle of Wight clubs

The Yachtsmen, with two wins and two clean sheets — something they had struggled to keep of late — in the their last two matches have helped hoist them up to fifth place in the table.

Jez Conway (in blue) scoring the winner in their last home match against Christchurch in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier.  Photo: Graham Brown.

Unfortunately, their skipper John McKie will be out with a hamstring problem, as well as Jimmy Wykes (suspended) and Harry Dye (knock), but will have defensive rock Aidan Bryan and Callum Chase back in the squad.

Cowes boss Vic Sanders said: "I'm really pleased with the two clean sheets, particularly having played with weakened squads.

"We will have a strong squad for the visit of Alresford Town, who we know a bit about after they beat us 6-1 recently in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Cowes Sports boss, Vic Sanders, pleased with recent results.  FILE

"I looking forward to the game. It will be a good test of how far we've come lately. The lads are pretty confident.

"They have given me all they've got in every game since I came here, except, perhaps, the Alresford game, but they were very tired having played five away games on the trot in 12 days.

"The young players who have come into the side have acquitted themselves really well too, which hasd given me a nice selection headache for Saturday."   

In Sydenhams Wessex Division 1, Newport face a New Milton side who don't do draws have won four and lost eight so far this season.

Newport will want to bounce back from the disappointment of dropping two points to second-bottom Ringwood Town at home on Saturday after they equalised in the last few minutes.

Newport (in yellow) will be hoping to get a positive result at New Milton. FILE

Meanwhile, East Cowes Vics will want to help erase the memory of their 6-1 hammering at home to Amesbury Town last weekend by recording a victory at 12th-placed Petersfield Town.

Saturday sees the first round of the County Press sponsored Isle of Wight Challenge Cup, with some cracking games in store.

It will be a home tie for both Northwood St John and Osborne Coburg when they match up at the Isle of Wight Community Club ground.

Currently, Northwood sit top of Island League Division 1, while Osborne, due to Newport Reserves dropping out of the league, now sit bottom.

Whitecroft and Barton Sports entertain Sandown, who they hammered in a recent league match at The Fairway.

Action between Sandown (yellow) and Whitecroft & Barton Sports in the league recently. FILE 

The Ken Morris Junior A Cup first round is also being played, with Division 2 leaders Bembridge hosting Combination 1 side Northwood St John Reserves.

                                               SATURDAY FIXTURES

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League: Cowes Sports v Alresford.

Sydenhams Wessex Division 1: New Milton Town v Newport; Petersfield Town v East Cowes Vics.

IW County Press Challenge Cup, first round: East Cowes Vics Res v Pan Sports; ECS v Brading Town; Northwood St John v Osborne Coburg; Ventnor v Shanklin; West Wight v Binstead & COB; Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Sandown.

Ken Morris IW Junior A Cup: Bembridge v Northwood St John Res; Brighstone v Wootton; East Cowes Vics A v Brading Town Res; Newchurch v Seaview; Niton Community v Oakfield; Oakfield Res v Shanklin Res; Osborne Coburg Res v Carisbrooke United.

Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 2: Adgestone v Ryde Saints; Wroxall v Yarmouth & Calbourne.

Combination 1: Binstead & COB Res v Whitecroft & Barton Sports Res; Sandown Res v West Wight Res.

Combination 2: Wootton Res v Bembridge Res; Seaview Res v Niton Communit y Res; Carisbrooke Utd Res v Yarmouth & Calbourne Res; Ryde Saints A v Newchurch Res.

                                                TUESDAY FIXTURE

Sydenhams League Cup, third round: Portchester v Cowes Sports.