WEEKEND PREVIEW - OCT 29

The FA Vase carries forward from last week with AFC Stoneham’s tie with Fisher being replayed at Stoneham. The previous tie was won by Fisher on penalties but the match officials erred by refusing to allow a Stoneham player who had been sin-binned, to partake in the penalty shoot out and the FA ordered that the game be replayed and hopefully our side will progress - a tie against Jersey Bulls is the carrot.

This reduces the Premier Division programme to nine matches, Shaftesbury now having the day off, and AFC Portchester will be looking to return to winning ways when they entertain Hamble Club. The visitors have enjoyed a strong start to the season but have fallen back recently and a home win is on the cards. Second place Bemerton look to have what the pools companies used to call a home banker with the visit of Alresford but third place Horndean could have a difficult afternoon at Brockenhurst. 

Moneyfields have climbed to sixth place in the table and there should be a good attendance when they visit Fareham with the outcome of the game liable to go either way. Hythe & Dibden are established in the top ten and their goalscoring threat may be too much for visitors Portland while Laverstock & Ford could take the points against the inconsistent Baffins Milton Rovers at the Dell. 

Bournemouth’s away form may give them victory at Cowes Sports but the game at Christchurch, where US Portsmouth are the visitors, is between two clubs struggling for consistency and all three results are possible. Finally, Pagham have endured an awful run of results which has seen them slip in to the bottom three but they should improve the position after the visit of Blackfield & Langley although the visitors have a new manager in Craig Stanley & have started recruiting new players

Nine games in Division One and leaders New Milton Town should maintain winning ways against visitors Whitchurch United, who have lost all but one of their away games to date, and Downton should remain in second place with a win over East Cowes Vics who make the long journey from the Island. Follands could be too strong for Verwood, who do not travel too well, while Andover New Street are in unknown territory with a visit to Hamworthy Recreation where they will be hoping for all three points. 

Andover Town look to be the home banker for the Division with the visit of Fleet Spurs and similarly the points should remain on the Island when Ringwood visit Newport. Petersfield and Fawley are sides who give little away but Petersfield’s current form could give them the edge when they meet at Love Lane. The local derby at Totton & Eling, where Millbrook are the visitors, may finish in the home club’s favour and Amesbury will be hoping for desperately needed points against an out-of-form Romsey at Bonnymead Park.

Last games in October, the clocks alter so make the most of it and good wishes to all.