MIDDLEWICH Town and Winsford Saxons have announced their pre-season friendly fixtures, which include a clash against each other.

The Witches have 12 matches lined up, including two on one day, all at home, and the first one is on Tuesday against Northwich Victoria.

Many of their warm-up games to the new Cheshire League campaign are derby matches, as is the case for Saxons too.

Saxons, who host Princes Feathers at home on Sunday and then visit Middlewich on Saturday, August 8, are eager to make up for the cruel blow they suffered when the coronavirus pandemic ended last season’s action prematurely.

The Crewe and District League Premier Division side, who attracted new sponsorships with Quinton Travel, Shear Alpacas, and Dixon and Son’s Reach and Wash, were chasing silverware on three fronts.

“We’ve chosen a tough set of pre-season fixtures, as we want to be physically and mentally tested and in turn prepared to attack the 2020/21 season and make up for losing out on the title and two cup finals which were on offer before Covid-19 hit,” said Saxons manager Gary Lee Jamieson.

Middlewich Town friendly fixtures (all at home, times TBC unless stated):

August:

Tue 4th Northwich Victoria

Sat 8th Winsford Saxons

Wed 12th Crewe Athletic

Thu 13th Ashton Athletic

Sat 15th Hartford

Wed 19th Whitchurch Alport

Sat 22nd Holmes Chapel (noon) Barnton (3pm)

Wed 26th Winnington Ave 94

Sat 29th Crewe FC Res

September:

Wed 2nd George and Dragon

Sat 5th Curshaws

Winsford Saxons friendly fixtures:

August:

Sun 2nd Princes Feathers (H) 11am

Sat 8th Middlewich Res (A) 2pm

Sat 15th Winnington Ave (A) 2pm

Sat 22nd Holmes Chapel (H) 1pm

Wed 26th Altrincham Res (H) 6.30pm

Sat 29th Avon Villa (H) 1pm