March Town United and Wisbech Town face tough starts to new United Counties League season with games against Easington Sports and Lincoln United respectively
March Town United and Wisbech Town both face tough starts as they kick off their United Counties League Premier Division campaigns this weekend.
The Hares travel to Easington Sports in the UCL South while the Fenmen welcome last season's league runners-up Lincoln United to Fountain Fresh Park in UCL North.
Looking ahead to the trip to Easington, March Town coach Scott Callaghan said: "The last two years we've drawn 1-1 there and it is a very tough place to go.
"The positive for us is that we are going there at the start of the season and the last two times we've played there have been through the winter.
"Hopefully the pitch will be decent for us but like I said it's a tough place to go and not many teams will go there and win this season.
"It's a tough opener but every game, as we found out last year, is difficult in the UCL."
The Hares, who reached the play-offs last season, have bolstered their squad with exciting winger Luis Cowie returning to the GER.
Manager Ash Taylor said: "Delighted that Luis will be rejoining us and he’s a player I know well with him being with us previously.
"I think if Luis is honest since leaving us he’s not settled and we will allow him to enjoy his football and feel part of something.
"He’s an exciting winger who’s excellent in one-on-one situations and will bring goals and assists to the team."
The Hares begin their UCL home season with a game against Godmanchester Rovers on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
They concluded their pre-season fixtures with a 2-1 victory at Ely City on Saturday.
Wisbech Town are also faced with a difficult opener.
Lincoln United finished second in the league standings last term, losing in the play-offs, and also reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase.
They are likely to be a tough nut to crack for the Fenmen at Fountain Fresh Park.
Wisbech's best-laid plans have been hit by an injury to influential midfielder Sam Murphy.
The 32-year-old requires a minor operation and surgery to clear up a niggling issue and is expected to be sidelined for anything up to three months of the campaign.
The news is a huge blow to the Fenmen, who were trying to build their squad around the former Peterborough Northern Star, Spalding United, Deeping Rangers and March Town Utd player.
Looking ahead to the opening game, manager Alex Street said: “There’s currently a lot of uncertainty over the new manager role but I’ll continue as normal and try my best like I always do to try to get the best out of my players on the pitch for however long I’m the manager for.
"I’ll continue to make sure that I can be as professional as we can as a club at this level to try and change the ways of Wisbech.
"As for Lincoln well that’s not an ideal start for us last season's league runners-up and vase semi-finalists.
"They are a team who are organised and a club which is run very well and they are coming into this game full of confidence after having a very successful pre-season.
“But we shall be doing our best to frustrate and be organised and we will see where we can go from there and take one game at a time."
On Wednesday night they are in UCL league action again when they travel to newly-promoted Bourne Town.
The Fenmen finished their league preparations with a 5-1 home defeat to Downham Town in midweek and a 1-0 loss at Heacham at the weekend.
Youngster Blake Foster is the latest addition to a young-looking Wisbech squad.
