AFTER being handed the long trek to Tiverton Town in the FA Cup, Evesham United's opening Southern League Premier Division game also takes them to the same north Devon venue, writes Mervyn Collins.

Saturday, August 13 is the date for the Robins' first ever top-flight clash - a difficult opener that is followed by successive home games at Common Road against Team Bath and Salisbury City.

Former rivals in the Western Division, Rugby Town are Evesham's next opponents on the road before another long journey to Cheshunt on August 27 is followed two days later by a far from appetising Bank Holiday Monday home date with Grantham Town.

United will lock horns with old county rivals halesowen Town on Tuesday, September 27 followed by another attractive midweek clash with Gloucester City two weeks later.

A Monday night date at Team Bath awaits Dave Busst's men on October 24 before United entertain Yate Town, the team that pipped them for automatic promotion, on October 29.

There's a visit to last season's champions Mangotsfield on Saturday, December 3 before the festive period brings three attractive fixtures.

There's home dates with Cirencester Town and Merthyr Tydfil on December 27 and 31 respectively, followed by a visit to Bath City on Monday, January 2.

The return meeting with the latter takes place on Easter Saturday, April 15 with United travelling to Cirencester two days later.

A visit to Yate on April 22 and a home game against Chesham United wind up what promises to be an interesting campaign.

Premier Division

August

Sat 13 Tiverton Town (a)

TUES 16 TEAM BATH (H)

SAT 20 SALISBURY CITY (H)

Tues 23 Rugby Town (a)

Sat 2, Cheshunt (a)

MON 29 GRANTHAM TOWN (H)

September

SAT 3 AYLESBURY UNITED (H)

Sat 10 Tiverton Town (FA Cup) (a)

Sat 17 Chippenham Town (a)

TUES 27 HALESOWEN TOWN (H)

October

Sat 1 Kings Lynn (a)

Sat 8 Banbury United (a)

TUES 11 GLOUCESTER CITY (H)

SAT 22 BEDFORD TOWN (H)

Mon 24 Team Bath (a)

SAT 29 YATE TOWN (H)

November

Sat 5 Chesham United (a)

SAT 12 SOLIHULL BOROUGH (FA Trophy) (H)

SAT 19 NORTHWOOD (H)

Sat 26 Grantham Town (a)

December

Sat 3 Mangotsfield United (a)

Sat 10 BANBURY UNITED (H)

Sat 17 Hitchin Town (a)

TUES 27 CIRENCESTER TOWN (H)

SAT 31 MERTHYR TYDFIL (H)

January

Mon 2 Bath City (a)

SAT 7 RUGBY TOWN (H)

Sat 14 Aylesbury Utd (a)

SAT 21 KINGS LYNN (H)

Sat 28 Halesowen Town (a)

February

Sat 4 Gloucester City (a)

SAT 11 CHESHUNT (H)

Sat 18 Bedford Town (a)

SAT 25 CHIPPENHAM TOWN (H)

March

Sat 4 Merthyr Tydfil (a)

SAT 11 TIVERTON TOWN (H)

SAT 18 HITCHIN TOWN (H)

Sat 25 Salisbury City (a)

April

Sat 1 Northwood (a)

SAT 8 MANGOTSFIELD UNITED (H)

SAT 15 BATH CITY (H)

Mon 17 Cirencester Town (a)

Sat 22 Yate Town (a)

SAT 29 CHESHAM UNITED (H)