ANDOVER Town will kick-off their new Wessex Premier League campaign with an important home fixture against last season's runners-up Sholing.

The Wessex League have recently announced their fixture list for the 2016-17 season, pitting the two clubs against each other at the Portway Stadium on Tuesday 2 August.

And it is an opening game which will test both side's promotion credentials.

Town, who finished fourth in their last Wessex Premier campaign, will be hoping to launch another Southern League promotion charge this season.

With Sholing likely to be in the mix at the top of the table this season, both teams will be hoping to inflict an early blow to their rival's promotion dreams.

Town will then go on to host Alresford in their second league game of the season on Tuesday 9 August before facing their first away trip at Fareham Town on Saturday 13 August.

Andover are due to end their season by hosting Moneyfields on Saturday 15 April before facing a final day game against Alresford on Saturday 22 April.

Andover and nearest rivals Whitchurch United will go head-to-head at the Portway on Saturday 30 August.

The Jam Boys will host Town at Longmeadow at the height of the festive season, on Wednesday 28 December.

Meanwhile United start their campaign with a home game against newly promoted Amesbury Town on Wednesday 3 August.

The Jam Boys follow this up by hosting AFC Portchester seven days later before making the long trip to Newport IOW on Saturday 13 August.

Whitchurch then end their season with games against Fawley and Hamworthy.

In Division One, Andover New Street host Fleet Spurs in their opening day fixture on Saturday 6 August.

They then face an away trip to AFC Stoneham a week later before returning home for a fixture against North Hampshire rivals Tadley Calleva on Wednesday 17 August.
 

In the Wessex League Cup all of the Andover teams have been given a pass into the second round.

Andover New Street will host newly promoted Premier side Portland United on 14 September while Town will travel to Division One outfit Hythe and Dibden on the same day.

Whitchurch will host either Laverstock and Ford or Romsey Town.

For a full list of fixtures visit: http://wessexleague.co.uk/