After finding the net 42 times in seven games during pre-season, Danny Robinson’s squad will hope to build on their performances by spoiling Willand’s first ever Southern League fixture.

The Kingfishers produced a 7-1 thrashing of Kidlington FC in their last game and the Thatcham manager praised the environment with the players throughout the summer break:

“Fantastic - very, very good. The atmosphere with the players at the precise moment in time is probably the most enjoyable pre-season I’ve done. Now we’ll get the last training session finished and look forward to Saturday”

But the visitors approach the match as last season’s Toolstation Premier League winners and their most recent outing resulted in a narrow 2-1 victory over St Austell in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round.

The Exeter-based club scored 152 goals across 52 games in all competitions last season whilst reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Vase.

Robinson expects the travelling team to impress this term; “They are a very good side. Obviously they got far in the Vase last year, they are used to winning – being champions coming up,” said the Thatcham boss.

“We’ve done a little bit of hard work on them so we know a little bit about them and they’re going to be at the top end of the table come May so it’s going to be a very tricky game for us.”

Town are also likely to be without Jon Beeden and Gareth Thomas for the tie with both players carrying injuries.

Rovers did, however, ship five goals against Taunton Town in pre-season and are entering new, testing heights with Town now well-accustomed to Southern League football.

Come down to the Stacatruc Stadium to see the opening game of the 2019/20 season! Ticket prices for the match are listed below;

Adults - £9

Concessions - £6

Children - £2