Shanklin begin their defence of the Challenge Cup – now known as the Island Echo Challenge Cup – this Saturday when they face Binstead & COB at the County Ground.
The Island Echo Challenge Cup is the premier cup competition for Isle of Wight teams below Wessex League level – entry is limited to the 14x Division 1 teams.
Last season, the cup was won by Shanklin after beating their greatest rivals Whitecroft & Barton Sports at the Peter Henry Ground in Brading, with Neo Lamb scoring the winning goal.
Shanklin manager Paul Haward says:
“It’s great to hear Island Echo sponsoring the cup. After winning this cup last year, people will be looking at us to do it again, I’m sure.
“We enter this year’s competition in good form, going undefeated in the season with only 1 draw to our name. Binstead are always a tough opponent, with a good mix of experience and youth in their squad. We anticipate a tough game at the County Ground, but, at the same time, we are confident of progressing to the next round if we play well.”
In other Island Echo Challenge Cup games, Bembridge take on Sandown & Lake at Steyne Park, Northwood St Johns face Oakfield at the Isle of Wight Community Club, and West Wight welcome Vectis to Camp Road.
2 Isle of Wight clubs will hope to progress to the 3rd rounds of the Hampshire Cups, with Pan facing Hartley Witney in the Hampshire Trophy and East Cowes Sports Reserves travelling to North Warnborough in the Hampshire Vase.
In Isle of Wight Division 1, 3rd-placed Cowes Sports Reserves have an El Classicowes derby against East Cowes Sports at Westwood Park.
The game between Brading Town and leaders Whitecroft & Barton at the Peter Henry Ground has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
In the Wessex League …
In Wessex Division 1, 3rd-placed Newport will be hoping to win their 10th successive league game when they face Petersfield Town at Smallbrook. However, the Rams have already beaten the Port twice this season in cup competitions.
3rd-from-bottom East Cowes Vics travel across the Solent to play Totton & Eling. The corresponding fixture the previous season ended in a 1-1 draw.
In the Wessex Premier, 17th-placed Cowes Sports have a long journey to Dorset, where they take on 9th-placed Shaftesbury.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 19th November
Premier Division
Shaftesbury v Cowes Sports
Division One
Newport (IoW) v Petersfield Town (14:30)
Totton & Eling v East Cowes Victoria
Isle of Wight Fixtures for Saturday 19th November
Hampshire FA Saturday Trophy
Pan Community v Hartley Wintney
Hampshire FA Saturday Vase
North Warnborough v ECS Reserves
Island Echo Challenge Cup – 1st Round
Bembridge v Sandown & Lake
Northwood St Johns v Oakfield
Shanklin v Binstead & COB
West Wight v Vectis
Isle of Wight Memorial Cup – 1st Round
East Cowes Vics Reserves v Seaview
Newchurch v Niton Community
Osborne Coburg v AFC Wootton
Harwoods Renault Division 1
Brading Town P-P Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Cowes Sports Reserves v ECS
No Fixture: Ryde Saints
Harwoods Renault Division 2
Ventnor v Carisbrooke United
Yarmouth & Calbourne v Niton Community
Harwoods Combination 1
Bembridge v Shanklin
Binstead & COB v Northwood St Johns
Oakfield v West Wight
Vectis v Sandown & Lake
Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Brading Town
Harwoods Combination 2
AFC Wootton v Bembridge ‘A’
Niton Community v Ventnor
Ryde Saints v Pan Community
No Fixture: Newchurch & Osborne Coburg
baaaaaaaa neo lamb, funny island name