In the Island Echo Challenge Cup, Binstead and Ventnor lock horns at the Molehill while Whitecroft & Barton Sports take on Bembridge at Sandy Lane today (Saturday). Binstead – who have yet to win a game this year – got to the semi-finals by beating Vectis 4-5 on penalties after drawing 2-2 at Cowes Enterprise College. Division 1 newcomers Ventnor – who have won 4 of their last 5 matches – reached the semi-finals by overcoming Brading 4-2. The 2 sides have met recently, with Ventnor securing a narrow 3-2 win over Binstead at Watcombe Bottom. However, the Molehill is never an easy ground to play at for an away side. In the 2nd semi-final, Division 1 leaders and Island Echo Challenge Cup holders W&B – who are unbeaten against Isle of Wight teams this season – take on 8th-placed Bembridge. Whitecroft & Barton reached the semi-finals by overcoming last year’s beaten finalists Shanklin 1-2 at the County Ground. Their opponents Bembridge got to the semi-final stage of the competition by knocking out East Cowes Sports 3-7 in a 10-goal thriller at the GKN ground.
In the Wessex Premier…
In the Wessex Premier, 7th-placed Cowes Sports have another opportunity to reach the playoff places when they take on 9th-placed Sherborne Town at Westwood Park. The Yachtsmen are just 2 points below 5th-placed Portland United in the Wessex Premier table but have 2 games in hand. Cowes’ 9-game unbeaten run ended last Saturday, when they lost the return fixture against Sherborne 4-2. Wessex Premier table below: 
In Wessex Division 1…
7th-placed East Cowes Vics will be hoping to make further progress towards the playoff positions when they face bottom club New Milton – who are without a win this season – at Beatrice Avenue. Vics are just 3 points behind 5th-placed Cove. 17th-placed Newport IW will be seeking a 3rd successive victory when they travel to Dorset to play the strongest side in the division: unbeaten Hamworthy Recreation. The Port – who have 9 games in hand on 16th-placed Hamworthy United – will hope to carry the momentum from their 2-0 midweek win over Clanfield to the game in their battle to climb the table to reach a comfortable midtable position. Wessex Division 1 table below: 
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 3rd February
Wessex Premier Cowes Sports v Sherborne Town Wessex Division 1 East Cowes Vics v New Milton Town Hamworthy Recreation v Newport (IW)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 3rd February
Challenge Cup semi-finals Binstead & COB v Ventnor W & B Sports v Bembridge Harwoods Division 1 East Cowes Sports v Cowes Sports Reserves Division 2 Niton Community v Ryde Saints Combination 1 Brading Town Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves Northwood SJ Reserves v Vectis Reserves Osborne Coburg Reserves v Ventnor Reserves Shanklin Reserves v W & B Sports Reserves West Wight Reserves v Binsread & COB Reserves Combination 2 High Park Reserves v Newchurch Reserves Ryde Saints Reserves v AFC Wootton Reserves
