WEEKEND PREVIEW - JAN 28
The Premier Division programme gets under way on Friday evening when Moneyfields (pictured, yellow) entertain Laverstock & Ford at Havant & Waterlooville with an 8pm kick-off. Difficult to predict but the visitors could get a share of the points.
Leaders AFC Portchester are at home to Christchurch and should maintain their 100% home record and their nearest rivals, AFC Stoneham, should also come home with three points from their visit to Portland.
Horndean, who complete the top three, could face a difficult afternoon at Fareham where the home side can be unpredictable and there is also the spice added by it being something of a local derby.
Bemerton may well be too strong for United Services Portsmouth at Burnaby Road, though the latter have won three of their last four home fixtures, and it could be an interesting match at Hythe & Dibden where Baffins Milton Rovers are the visitors. There is only one point between them in the table but the visitors have had more games of late and that could give them the edge.
Brockenhurst and Hamble Club are both in decent form of late and could share the points in the Forest which leaves three games that could affect the bottom of the table. Cowes Sports, one point outside the relegation area, travel to Bournemouth who have a poor home record while Pagham, much in need of points, make the long journey to Shaftesbury and will do well to avoid defeat.
Lastly Alresford (pictured, in white), marooned at the bottom of the table, head for Blackfield & Langley who are still in need of points themselves. A home win probably the outcome.
The top match in Division One is probably at Newport where Downton are the visitors. Third against fourth in the table and separated by just three points, a close encounter is on the cards with home advantage possibly the deciding factor.
Leaders Andover New Street make the short journey to relegation threatened Amesbury and must surely take the three points and New Milton Town will be strongly fancied to come out on top of Romsey Town at home, the visitors having experienced a bad run of late.
Ringwood Town do not always get the results their play deserves and but find it hard at Petersfield Town while Andover Town against Follands will be an interesting encounter at the Portway. Neither Club has quite reached last season’s form with any consistency and an away win could result.
Fleetlands have gained some success on their travels and may add to same at Totton & Eling while Verwood’s poor away record could count against them at Fawley.
Ash United acquitted themselves well at Newport in midweek and may well take all three points when East Cowes Vics travel to North Hampshire and, still in the northern half of the County, Whitchurch have slipped down the table of late and may struggle against Millbrook, though both clubs will surely be hoping mainly that the game is played given their backlog of fixtures.
Finally Hamworthy Recreation make probably their first ever visit to Fleet Spurs with every hope of the three points.
All the above is in theory – hopefully the weather will be on our side for once.
Article Photo: Dave Bodymore
