Ringwood Town vs Newport (IOW) Wessex League clash postponed

Ringwood Town were set to face Newport (Isle of Wight) at the Mancra Community Stadium this evening (Tuesday 12th, 7.30pm) but the game was called off after a pitch inspection.

The ground staff undertook a pitch inspection at 14.30 today and deemed the pitch not match ready due to heavy rainfall overnight and during the day.

Ringwood have not played a home match in over a month due to game cancellations with the last home fixture coming against Romsey Town in December last year.

Away at Cove on Saturday, their game was also postponed in the 63rd minute due to a frozen goalmouth.

After the game, manager Fran Mathers said: “Due to the game postponement we now face a rather long midweek trip instead in February to Cove.”

Despite this, Mathers noted the team’s performance saying it was the sides’ “best performance for some time”.

They created seven chances during the game but were not able to find a breakthrough despite consistent pressure.

At the time of cancellation, they were 1-0 down thanks to a goal from George Keenan in the 57th minute. Just over five minutes later, postponement dawned over the fixture due to ice cold conditions.

Their home match against AFC Aldermaston in the new year was also called off just over a week ago too.

This was due to a frozen pitch with pitch issues being persistent at the Macra Community Stadium for Ringwood.

They have lost their last four ties including a heavy 5-2 loss to Brockenhurst in the quarter final stage of the Southampton Senior Cup in December.

However, Ringwood have a crop of young talent coming into the first team, with 16-year-old Riley Claxton coming on in the winter break to make his debut for the first team to bolster the squad.

They currently sit in 12th in the table with today’s rescheduled opponents having been sat in 11th before the recent announcement.

Ringwood will hope to resume action away at relegation-threatened 17th place Kintbury Rangers on the weekend on Saturday with a victory to edge further away from the relegation zone.

By Moritz Bear