Isle of Wight Division 1 Champions Whitecroft & Barton Sports face Division 2 Champions High Park in a Memorial Cup semi-final at Sandy Lane this afternoon (Saturday).
W&B have been unbeaten in their league campaign, winning 16 and drawing 1 of their league games to date. A win today would see the Division 1 champions through to their 2nd Isle of Wight final and provides the opportunity of winning a league, Challenge and Memorial Cup treble of trophies.
High Park have suffered only 1 league defeat in the season to date taking 40 points out a possible 45.
High Park manager Stuart Woodmore says of his team’s chances:
“We are massive underdogs, but it’s a nice champions v champions semi final.
“We will try park some busses and see if we can get anything.”
The 2nd semi-final sees 2 Division 1 sides – 3rd-placed Brading Town and 8th-placed Cowes Sports Reserves – face off at Vicarage Lane.
In the only Wessex League game to be played on the Isle of Wight today, 4th-placed East Cowes Victoria take on 10th-placed Clanfield at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics are unbeaten in 6 games, only 1 of which saw the East Cowes side take all 3 points, the remainder of their recent matches ending honours even
The Victorians require a further 4 points from their remaining 4 games to be assured of a playoff place.
Also in Wessex Division 1, 8th-placed Newport – who still have a mathematical chance of reaching the playoffs – travel to 18th-placed Fawley.
Newport have been inconsistent over recent games, beating top club New Milton Town 2-3 and 5th-placed Hamworthy United 4-1 last Saturday but losing 2-1 to bottom club Verwood Town.
Port co-manager Joe Butcher says of his side’s prospects:
“This is a tough game. Fawley have won 4 of their last 6 and only lost 1 in 7. They are another side that was threatened by relegation that has strengthened massively.
“The worst teams you can play this time of year are the ones going for promotion and the ones fighting relegation
“We’ve been able to get 5 subs out in recent weeks, so I think we’ll be fairly strong.”
Kick off for Fawley v Newport IW is at the earlier time of 14:45.
Wessex League table (top 8) below. 5th-placed Hamworthy United are not eligible for a playoff place this season.
Sherborne Town v Cowes Sports is off due to ferry disruptions.
In the Wessex Premier, 11th-placed Cowes travel to Dorset to face 9th-placed Sherborne Town.
A win would see the Yachtsmen return to the top half of the Wessex Premier table.
The corresponding fixture at the Zilch Waste Stadium ended as a goalless draw at the beginning of March.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of the game:
“Sherborne are a good team and nice club. But it’s a long way to go and a hard place to get a result. We will go there, give it our best and try and get a result.”
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 5th April
Wessex Premier
Sherborne Town v Cowes Sport OFF
Division 1
East Cowes Victoria v Clanfield
Fawley v Newport IW (14:45)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 5th April
Memorial Cup
Brading Town v Cowes Sports Reserves
W&B Sports v High Park
Harwoods Division 1
Bembridge v Binstead & COB
Osborne Coburg v Northwood SJ
West Wight v Vectis
Division 2
Niton Community v Oakfield
East Cowes Sports v Seaview
Sandown & Lake v Newchurch
Combination 1
Bembridge Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves
High Park Reserves v West Wight Reserves
Northwood SJ Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves
Combination 2
Oakfield Reserves v Ventnor A
West Wight A v Newchurch Reserves
Niton Community Reserves v High Park A
