A NUMBER of matches across the Isle of Wight have been called off after pitches with snow on them last night (Friday) failed an inspection this morning.

All the Island's Sydenhams Wessex clubs had their matches called off.

Newport had an inspection of St George's Park for this afternoon's Division 1 game against Alton Town at 9am and it was called off soon after that.

The club said: "St George’s still has a light covering of snow and, with heavy snow in Hampshire yesterday, it would make for difficult and potentially dangerous travelling conditions for Alton.

"The Wessex League allowed clubs to make an early decision on matches, and the sensible decision was to call it off as early as possible to avoid any unnecessary travelling by Alton's team or supporters."

Wessex Premier club Cowes Sports followed suit with a failed pitch inspection at Hamble Club in Southampton just after 10am.

East Cowes Vics had their match postponed just before 11am, despite the Romsey Town pitch being completely covered in snow.

Vics secretary Darren Dyer said: "They could have called that one off last night or very early this morning. No idea why the decision took so long to make."

On the Island, West Wight's Isle of Wight League Division 1 match at home to league leaders Whitecroft and Barton Sports and the game between Pan Sports and Northwood St John were called off because of snow and ice, but games in the East and South Wight are relatively unscathed by the weather.

In Division 2, the matches between Brighstone and Adgestone, Carisbrooke United v Niton Community, Oakfield v Yarmouth and Calbourne and Ryde Saints v Seaview were postponed.

Also off are the Combination 1 games Brading Town Reserves v Oakfield Reserves, and Whitecroft and Barton Sports Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves.

The Combination 2 match off is between Yarmouth and Calbourne Reserves and Niton Community Reserves.

                                   TODAY'S MATCHES STILL ON 

Harwoods Renault Isle of Wight League Division 1: Cowes Sports Reserves v Binstead & COB; Sandown v ECS; Shanklin v Brading Town; Ventnor v Osborne Coburg;.

Division 2: Bembridge v Newchurch; East Cowes Vics A v Wootton.

Combination 1: Binstead & COB v Shanklin; ECS Reserves v West Wight Reserves; Osborne Coburg Reserves v Sandown Reserves.

Combination 2: Newchurch v Wootton; Ryde Saints A v Carisbrooke United Reserves.