FA VASE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND

THE Isle of Wight's 'big three' football clubs all have home ties in the second qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Vase this afternoon (Saturday).

Cowes Sports, fresh from a morale-boosting 2-1 win at fellow strugglers United Services Portsmouth in the Wessex Premier in midweek, entertain Verwood Town, who play in Division 1, the league below them, at Westwood Park.

The Yachtsmen moved up four places from second bottom with their win to 15th, while Verwood lie in sixth, in the same division as Newport and East Cowes Vics.

Read: Conway scores vital winner for Cowes Sports in Portsmouth

Newport face Amesbury Town, also of Wessex Division 1, at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde.

Port go into the game on a much-improved run of form, beating Romsey Town 5-2 on the road to move them up to 11th, with plenty of games in hand on the sides above them.

Their opponents lie in 16th and have a poor away record, picking up one point on the road, losing four and conceding 19 in those five games.

East Cowes Vics have possibly got the toughest of the three ties as they entertain high-flying Wessex Premier outfit, Portchester, who boast a 100 per cent win record so far this season.

Vics suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to Whitchurch United last Saturday, so it will take a gargantuan effort from Richie Woodburn's side to progress in the competition at Beatrice Avenue.

Read: Bad luck and spot kick woes haunt East Cowes Vics

A run in the FA vase could be a vital money spinner for the Island's clubs.

Second round qualifying winners receive £2,250, while losers receive £575. Any Island clubs progressing to the third qualifying round will receive £2,450, with losers receiving £625.

Kick off time for all three ties is 3pm.