Harriers open against promoted Hayes

Mark Yates' men face the merged club in their first-ever game in the Blue Square Premier, the third time in three years his side have tackled new-boys on the first day.

Last year, Lewes came to Aggborough, battled to a 1-1 draw and celebrated wildly on the pitch at the final whistle - which did not amuse the Harriers boss.

But he had the last laugh, as the Rooks finished rock-bottom and were relegated.

That has not stopped him venting his frustration at yet another banana skin to open the season, though.

Yates said: "We know that every game is tough, but I find it remarkable that we keep getting promoted sides on the first day - when there is no worse time to be playing them.

"New teams will be massively up for it and will be at their strongest. They will relish the thought of coming here, so it will be difficult.

"I remember Lewes came here to open last season and got a point - they celebrated like they had won the league! Hayes & Yeading will do the same, all they can to get a result.

"It's disappointing, but come the start of the season we will be ready."

Yates on the whole is pleased with the fixture list, which has scheduled more fixtures earlier rather than later.

This has earned a round of applause from the Harriers boss, after several bouts and postponements led them to playing a quarter of the season's games in the final month of last season.

He said: "The good thing is that the league have listened to the gripes a a few people had about last season and have put more fixtures in early.

"Hopefully now we won't have the backlog like we did last season, when we had some success in the cup competitions and weather played a part."