NEW YEAR PREVIEW
And we start, appropriately enough, with Premier Division leaders AFC Portchester who entertain Fareham Town on Monday with a 3pm kick off – the only game being played on Monday (Jan 2).
Both sides are extremely adept at promoting their fixtures, so a large crowd is virtually guaranteed and Portchester should retain their 100% home record.
On to Tuesday, when the remaining matches in both Divisions are being staged. Second placed Horndean, unbeaten at home, host Hamble Club, who are fifth and with whom they have had some close encounters in the past and may come out on top by the narrowest of margins.
AFC Stoneham, in third place, will surely be too strong for bottom of the table Alresford at home but it will be a closer game at Moon Park, where Shaftesbury are the visitors and Bemerton may have to settle for a point.
Moneyfields, who have climbed to sixth place, have another local derby and should take the spoils against US Portsmouth at Havant & Waterlooville's Draper Tools Community Stadium (8pm k.o).
Bournemouth have lost their last four at home and now welcome Portland United to Victoria Park and should ensure at least a share of the points. Brockenhurst welcome Laverstock & Ford to the Forest in a game that could go either way while on the Waterside Hythe & Dibden can take the three points at Blackfield & Langley’s expense.
Baffins Milton Rovers head east along the coast to Pagham and will be considered favourites by many and in the final game Christchurch’s recent upsurge in form may mean they will gain reward after the crossing to Cowes Sports.
There are nine games on Tuesday in Division One with table topping New Milton facing a potentially tricky evening at Hamworthy Recreation. The latter are firmly settled now in the Wessex environment and are quite capable of sharing the points at least.
There should be no such problems for second placed Andover New Street who host bottom Club Fleet Spurs at Foxcotte Park. The visitors came close to gaining their first points just before Christmas but it is difficult to see anything other than a home win – though there are sightings of a “banana skin”.
Downton face Andover Town at Wick Lane and while the Clubs are evenly matched Town have struggled away from home on occasions this season and a home win looks a possibility. Newport cross to Totton & Eling and though the Millers are much improved this season, Newport’s impressive away form should prevail.
The game between Fleetlands and Follands is being played at Follands because of Fleetlands’s floodlight problems and the loss of home advantage may hit the now visitors.
Petersfield Town (pictured, in red) head to Ash United and could well return home with the three points but the meeting between the 'Towns' of Ringwood and Verwood could finish level, or be won by either side. Fawley may take advantage of Romsey’s current poor form at the By Pass Ground and lastly, Amesbury Town, desperately in need of points, could take all three when Whitchurch United cross in to Wiltshire.
A Happy New Year to all!
Article Photo: Paul Paxford | @PitchSidePhoto
