WITH lockdown coming to an end, and residents collectively rubbing their hands together at news of the IW's coveted Covid tier one status, football is back today (Saturday).

After a month's hiatus, in keeping with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's second lockdown rules, the IW Saturday League has a number of scheduled games at the weekend.

Andrew Justice, honorary secretary of the IWDFA, said: "If there's a third lockdown, we'll have to revisit the whole thing, but the idea is to finish the season as normal.

"We can't guess what's going to happen ­— we're just going to try to play as many games as we can, picking up from October.

"We won't be playing any cup competitions this season, and all clubs must conform with the risk assessment and action plan set out by the FA."

In Division 1, league leaders by merit of goal difference, W&B Sports, will take on third place side West Wight in a game which could see the home side leapfrog the visitors with a win.

The hosts come into the game off the back of a 6-1 win in their previous fixture, beating Carisbrooke United on the road back in October, while visitors W&B took all three points against Vectis with a 3-0 win before lockdown.

Shanklin, second but with a game in hand, could go top with a victory over their Sandown neighbours, while fourth place Brading Town may well follow in hot pursuit, should they chalk up another win against a visiting Ventnor side struggling for form.

At the bottom of the table, Carisbrooke United ­— who will have easier assignments in the future ­— visit fifth place Northwood St Johns, who come into the game confident, having beat Shanklin in their last outing.

In Division Two, the free-scoring Oakfield could extend their unbeaten run to eight games with a win against visiting third place side, Yarmouth & Calbourne.

Second place side, Niton, trailing Oakfield by a mere three points, could maintain pressure at the top with a win against a visiting Newchurch side hungry to pick up their second win of the season.

Osborne Coburg, fourth, will be hoping to built upon their 6-0 victory over Newport A with another positive result against a more competitive Adgestone, while fifth place AFC Wootton take on whipping boys, Wroxall.

Bottom of the league and yet to pick up a point, Wroxall find themselves -44 goals down from their first six games, following a 12-0 defeat to Adgestone before lockdown.

The side will be desperate to leave their pre-lockdown woes behind them and bounce back with a disciplined performance.

In Division One of the Sydenhams Wessex League, East Cowes Vics host Ringwood Town, where they will be hoping to build upon a 3-3 draw with Bemerton Heath Harlequins in October.

The Vics had struggled for form post-lockdown, chalking up just two wins from their first nine.

Fellow Division One side, Newport, who beat a travelling Totton & Eling outfit 5-0 at the start of November, will host Hythe & Dibden on Tuesday.

In the Premier Division, Cowes Sports will take on Lymington Town on Tuesday, having lost 3-0 to Christchurch on home turf and drawing 3-3 with Hamble Club in their last two fixtures.

Today's (Saturday) fixtures ­— Sydenhams Wessex League Division One: East Cowes Victoria v Ringwood Town; Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Binstead & COB v Vectis, Brading Town v Ventnor, Cowes Sports Reserves v Ryde Saints, East Cowes Sports v Bembridge, Northwood St Johns v Carisbrooke United, Shanklin v Sandown, West Wight v Whitecroft & Barton Sports; Division Two: Niton Community v Newchurch, Pan Sports v Newport A, Oakfield v Yarmouth & Calbourne, Osborne Coburg v Adgestone, Wroxall v AFC Wootton; Combination One: Carisbrooke United v East Cowes Sports, Ryde Saints v West Wight, Sandown v Binstead & COB, Seaview v Oakfield, Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Brading Town; Combination Two: AFC Wootton v Osborne Coburg, Bembridge v Newchurch, Vectis v Ryde Saints, Ventnor v Niton Community, Yarmouth & Calbourne v Sandown A.