UPDATE 11:00 Folland Sports v East Cowes Vics is OFF 2 of our Wessex League teams clubs – Cowes Sports and East Cowes Vics – are still in the hunt for 5th place in their respective divisions and a playoff place. In the Wessex Premier, 8th-placed Cowes Sports are just 3 points behind 5th-placed Laverstock & Ford but have a game in hand on the Wiltshire club. The Yachtsmen will be hoping to end a run of 3 successive defeats when they travel to face 3rd-placed AFC Portchester today. In Wessex Division 1, 6th-placed East Cowes Vics are a mere 1 point behind 5th-placed Fleetlands. Vics – who have had a 3-game winning streak – make the journey to mid-table Folland Sports. The East Cowes side’s closest rivals – 5th-placed Fleetlands and 7th-placed Cove – face each other at Powder Monkey Park. Manager Alex Smith says of his side’s chances of taking all 3 points:
“The trip to Follands will be a tough one. Whilst we’re obviously pleased to have strung a few wins together, Follands have won four in a row themselves. Someone’s run will have to end. “With how tight the race for 5th is looking, every game is crucial now. Ourselves, Fleetlands, Cove, Totton & Eling are obviously all in the hunt, but there are probably another 4 teams who could also put themselves in contention with a great run. “Who knows how the teams who seem cemented in the playoff places will finish? There are lots of big games coming up and there will definitely be upsets along the way. “All we can do is put our best foot forwards every week and see where that takes us.”
Also in Division 1, 16th-placed Newport have a home game against the team immediately above in the league table: Verwood Town. The Port are 5 points adrift of the Potters, but have 5 games in hand over the Dorset-based club. With both of our other Wessex League clubs playing on North Island, it would be great to see Island football fans getting behind the County Town club at Beatrice Avenue. Wessex League tables below: 
In Isle of Wight football…
UPDATE 11:00: All Division 1 and 2 games other than Vectis v Ventnor have been postponed. Division 1 league leaders West Wight are away to 2nd-from-bottom East Cowes Sports; 2nd-placed W&B travel to 7th-placed Cowes Sports Reserves. W&B – who are unbeaten in the season to date – are 3 points behind West Wight but have 2 games in hand. High Park are returning to football action after a month’s suspension when they play Binstead & COB in the Gold Cup at Steyne Park today. Harwood’s Saturday League table below: 
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday 10th February
Wessex Premier AFC Portchester v Cowes Sports ON Division 1 Folland Sports v East Cowes Vics OFF Newport (IW) v Verwood Town ON
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 10th February
Division 1 Bembridge v Brading Town OFF Cowes Sports Reserves v W & B Sports OFF East Cowes Sports v West Wight OFF Northwood SJ v Shanklin OFF Vectis v Ventnor ON Division 2 Newchurch v Sandown & Lake OFF Seaview v Ryde Saints OFF Combination 1 Binstead & COB Reserves v W & B Sports Reserves OFF Brading Town Reserves v Osborne Coburg Reserves OFF Shanklin Reserves v East Cowes Sports Reserves Ventnor Reserves v Bembridge Reserves OFF West Wight Reserves v Sandown & Lake Reserves OFF Combination 2 High Park Reserves v Bembridge A OFF Niton Community Reserves v Ventnor A OFF Ryde Saints Reserves v Seaview Reserves OFF West Wight A v AFC Wootton Reserves OFF Senior ‘Gold’ Cup High Park v Binstead & COB Junior A Osborne Coburg v Newport Reserves
