WINSFORD United begin a new season in the North West Counties League by hosting Barnoldswick.

Blues, looking to improve on finishing 13th in the Premier Division last term, then conclude a testing opening month with trips to Hanley and Runcorn Linnets before hosting promoted Widnes.

The sequence does not become easier in September, which starts with games against City of Liverpool and Bootle.

A first derby of the campaign does not arrive until Barnton visit at the end of November, while a traditional Boxing Day date with tenants 1874 Northwich remains in place.

The return is on Easter Monday.

Winsford must wait until March to take on Northwich Victoria in a league game for the first time since they were Cheshire League rivals back in the 1960s.

Vics are then due in town for a second meeting on April 7.

Lee Duckworth’s side finish with a home fixture against Burscough.

Here is Winsford’s Premier Division fixture list for 2017-2018 in full:

August

12 Barnoldswick Town (h)

16 Hanley Town (a)

26 Runcorn Linnets (a)

28 Widnes (h)

September

02 City of Liverpool (h)

06 AFC Liverpool (a)

09 Bootle (h)

16 AFC Darwen (h)

19 Congleton Town (a)

30 Abbey Hey (a)

October

02 Runcorn Town (h)

07 Charnock Richard (a)

10 Burscough (a)

14 West Didsbury & Chorlton (h)

21 Irlam (a)

28 AFC Liverpool (h)

November

04 AFC Darwen (a)

11 Ashton Athletic (a)

13 Maine Road (h)

18 City of Liverpool (a)

25 Hanley Town (h)

27 Barnton (h)

December

02 Runcorn Town (a)

09 Charnock Richard (h)

16 Congleton Town (h)

23 Squires Gate (a)

26 1874 Northwich (h)

30 Widnes (a)

January

06 Runcorn Linnets (h)

13 West Didsbury & Chorlton (a)

20 Abbey Hey (h)

27 Barnoldswick Town (a)

February

10 Squires Gate (h)

24 Irlam (h)

March

03 Northwich Victoria (a)

10 Barnton (a)

24 Padiham (a)

31 Ashton Athletic (h)

April

02 1874 Northwich (a)

07 Northwich Victoria (h)

14 Maine Road (a)

21 Padiham (h)

28 Bootle (a)

May

05 Burscough (h)