AFTER learning who his Bees will face in next month’s curtain-raiser, Trevor Senior believes the Tool-station Western Premier Division will be even stronger in 2012/13.

Bridport travel to Barnstaple on the opening day (August 4) of the new campaign before hosting Wells City three days later (August 7).

But with clashes with Bishop Sutton and Bitton sandwiched by cup fixtures at Buckland Athletic and Tavistock, Senior is anticipating a tough start for his troops.

Senior said: “Looking at the league, I think it’s going to be even stronger this year, so we have got to make sure we are stronger ourselves.

“Our first game is at Barnstaple and then we play Wells at home the following Tuesday night.

“After that we have our FA Cup game at Buckland, which is going to be tough, and then we go away to Bishop Sutton before playing at home to Bitton, who finished second last season.

“So it’s going to be a pretty tough start for us. We know from last season what sort of league it is but it is the league you want to be in.”

Other fixtures of note see Bridport entertain Gillingham Town on Boxing Day, travel to Ilfracombe Town on New Year’s Day and end the season at Hallen on April 27.

With the size of the division increasing by two teams, making 20 altogether, the Bees will play 38 league matches in total.

AUGUST

Sat 04 Barnstaple Town A

Tue 07 Wells City H

Sat 11 Buckland Athletic (FA Cup) A

Tue 14 Bishop Sutton A

Sat 18 Bitton H

SEPTEMBER

Sat 01 Tavistock (FA Vase) A

Sat 08 Street A Sat 15 Hallen H

Tue 18 Wells City A

Sat 22 Bristol Manor Farm H

Sat 29 Winterbourne Utd A

OCTOBER

Sat 06 Cadbury Heath A

Tue 09 Bishop Sutton H

Sat 13 Brislington A

Sat 20 Radstock Town H

Sat 27 Buckland Athletic A

NOVEMBER

Sat 03 Cadbury Heath H

Sat 10 Brislington (Les Phillips Cup) A

Sat 17 Odd Down A

Sat 24 Larkhall Athletic A

DECEMBER

Sat 01 Longwell Green Sports H

Sat 08 Willand Rovers A

Sat 15 Melksham Town H

Sat 22 Barnstaple Town H

Wed 26 Gillingham Town H

Sat 29 Bitton A

JANUARY

Tue 01 Ilfracombe Town A

Sat 05 Street H

Sat 12 Bristol Manor Farm A

Sat 19 Winterbourne Utd H

Sat 26 Bridlington H

FEBRUARY

Sat 02 Radstock Town A

Sat 09 Buckland Athletic H

MARCH

Sat 02 Odd Down H

Sat 09 Larkhall Athletic H

Sat 23 Longwell Green Sports A

Fri 29 Gillingham Town A

APRIL

Mon 01 Ilfracombe Town H

Sat 13 Willand Rovers H

Sat 20 Melksham Town A

Sat 27 Hallen A