AFC Stoneham are at home again in the league for the sixth successive time as they welcome Cowes Sports in the Wessex Premier League on Saturday 7th January.

AFC Stoneham

The Purps started the new year perfectly with a convincing 9-1 win against bottom of the league Alresford Town on Tuesday.

This win means that they have won five league games in a row, all of which were at home, meaning that they are still unbeaten at Stoneham Lane in the league this season.

After 19 games, Stoneham currently sit second in the league on 45 points, one point ahead of Horndean who have two games in hand on the Purps.

The tight battle at the top of the table really shows that every game counts, however Stoneham know it won’t be an easy task against a team that has beaten them in the league once before.

Cowes Sports

The Yachtsmen are currently 17th in the league on 14 points, one league position worse off than they ended the 2021/22 league campaign.

Their first game of 2023 was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, meaning that their most recent result was a 3-0 loss to Baffins Milton Rovers all the way back on 6th December.

Cowes Sports have hit a rough patch in form, picking up just four points in their last nine games, however the majority of these matches have been very close affairs in which they have just been edged out.

Their top scorer this season is John Mckie on 10 goals in 16 games, so Stoneham need to be prepared in order to stop Mckie and a well-rested Cowes Sports from ending their unbeaten home run.

Last Five Meetings:

27/09/22- AFC Stoneham 3-1 Cowes Sports (WLC)

30/08/22- AFC Stoneham 6-1 Cowes Sports (HSC)

20/11/21- Cowes Sports 1-2 AFC Stoneham (PREM)

07/09/21- AFC Stoneham 1-2 Cowes Sports (PREM)

06/10/20- AFC Stoneham 3-1 Cowes Sports (PREM)

By Freddie Dorman