WEEKEND PREVIEW - JAN 7
After a spate of midweek games – most of which fell foul of the weather – hopefully we can now return to the normal Saturday programme of fixtures with all Clubs in both Divisions in action.
We start in the Premier Division on Friday evening, where Moneyfields host Christchurch at the Draper Tools Community Stadium (8pm). Moneyfields have enjoyed a good run of late and climbed into fourth place in the table and they should continue their current form.
Leaders AFC Portchester (pictured) travel to Hythe & Dibden who are often capable of ruffling feathers, but it is difficult to see anything other than an away win. Second place AFC Stoneham, who polished up their shooting boots by scoring nine in midweek, have a 100% home record and should maintain that at the expense of visitors Cowes Sports while third place Horndean, also unbeaten at home, are favourites for the three points when Bournemouth come visiting.
Baffins Milton Rovers against Bemerton Heath Harlequins will be a close encounter with the visitors perhaps coming out on top and Fareham’s away record may cost them when they cross to Laverstock & Ford.
Shaftesbury make the 170 mike cross-country round trip to Pagham, but should come home with the points while US Portsmouth will probably cover a similar distance when they head west to Portland. Difficult to see a winner there and a sharing of the points may be the end result.
At the bottom of the table Brockenhurst could be too strong for Blackfield & Langley at Gang Warily and it is difficult to see anything other than an away win when Hamble Club travel to Alresford, whose struggles sadly show little sign of abating at present.
In Division One the crunch match is at New Milton where Andover New Street are the visitors – first against second in the table. The two sides shared four goals and the points earlier in the season and it could be a similar outcome, though a win would be happily accepted by either side. Almost on par with that is the clash between Follands and Newport at Hamble where the Island side’s away form may just hold sway.
Petersfield, fresh from scoring eight in midweek, may be too strong for the improving Millbrook at Love Lane and the same could apply to Andover Town when Fawley travel to the Portway.
An interesting clash at Magna Road where Hamworthy Recreation entertain Fleetlands. Both sides are settled in the Wessex League but the hosts look to be in better form at present. Downton go to Romsey and can ensure that the home side’s current poor run continues but who will come out on top between Whitchurch and Totton & Eling is, in a manner of speaking, anybody’s guess.
Ringwood and Verwood, both at home, should prevail against Ash United and Amesbury Town respectively while East Cowes Vics need to start picking up points and may start with three when Fleet Spurs cross to the Island.
Article Photo: Daniel Haswell
