WEEKEND PREVIEW - OCT 15
A complete League programme on offer and the Premier Division starts the ball rolling on Friday evening when Alresford Town entertain Moneyfields. The home side are struggling at present and have lost all their home matches to date, a run that could continue.
On to Saturday and League leaders AFC Portchester make the short trip to United Services Portsmouth. The home side gained a creditable win at Shaftesbury in midweek but Portchester’s 100% record should remain.
Bemerton dropped two points on Tuesday and could face a tough afternoon at Fareham while Hamble Club (pictured) will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat when they travel to Bournemouth, and there could be a sharing of the points at least.
Horndean have rediscovered their shooting boots of late and should return from Christchurch with the points and similarly AFC Stoneham should come out on top at Pagham. The Sussex side have slipped after a promising start and are now in the bottom three in the table.
Shaftesbury are not as yet the force they were at home last season so Baffins Milton Rovers will be confident of at least a point after their long journey and midweek Cup win at Portchester, while Hythe & Dibden must have every chance of a share of the spoils at Cowes Sports.
Portland have enjoyed a good run of late and will be hoping to continue same at Brockenhurst but the inconsistent Badgers will perhaps spoil their party. Lastly, Laverstock & Ford moved out of the bottom three in midweek and should pull further away when bottom club Blackfield & Langley visit The Dell.
Top game in Division One is at Hamble where fourth place Follands entertain the leaders, Downton. It is difficult to separate the two making a draw the likely outcome though home advantage may also come into the equation.
Second place New Milton Town look likely to take all three points at Amesbury while Andover New Street entertain the improved Totton & Eling, Street’s goals have dried up slightly in the last couple of matches and again home advantage may be the key.
A mile or so down the road Andover Town will welcome Ringwood to The Portway and be looking to get amongst the points again but Ringwood fully tested New Street in midweek and it will not be easy.
Newport should be too strong for Fleetlands at Smallbrook but Ash United against Millbrook could go either way as could the meeting between Verwood Town and Fawley – both can be difficult to beat.
Whitchurch United have hit a bad patch recently and may not get any joy on their visit to Romsey Town, while East Cowes Vics, who have drawn a number of games, will probably be happy with the same outcome at Petersfield.
Finally, it is difficult to see Fleet Spurs getting any joy on their first visit to Hamworthy Recreation but their fortunes must change at some stage.
Article Photo: Steve Ross/ Those White Lines
