BRIDGWATER Town and Wellington AFC begin their 2020/21 seasons in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup tonight.

The Robins make the trip down to Cornwall to take on South West Peninsula League team Millbrook, while fellow Western League Premier side Wellington are at home to Bodmin Town (both 7.45pm kick-offs).

After seeing his side conclude their pre-season campaign with a 4-3 defeat at home to another Peninsula League side, Torridgeside, on Friday night, Bridgwater co-manager Dave Pearse said: "Our pre-season has been a bit up and down.

“We put in a great performance against Weston-super-Mare - I’d be surprised if they’re not top five in the Southern League this year - but we were awful against Ashton & Backwell United.

“After that we changed things around, tried different things in training, and we played some great football against Bodmin Town and Helston Athletic.

“The players have been brilliant and kept themselves fit, and the new signings have come in and made a difference, on and off the pitch.”

Pearse added: “Millbrook are a bit of an unknown for us; they’ve got a new manager, they’re quite physical but they also play a bit.

“We’ll go there, play our game and hopefully get through to the next round.

“We have a full squad and we’re in confident mood."

Wellington, meanwhile, take on Bodmin - another Peninsula League outfit - with the game being played at Cullompton Rangers' Edenvale Park rather than The Playing Field in Wellington.

The Tangerines finished their own pre-season schedule with a 0-0 draw away to Ilfracombe Town at the weekend.

Fans are permitted to attend the game at Edenvale Park, provided that they agree to having their temperature taken and giving their details for Track & Trace purposes on entering the ground.

Both Bridgwater and Wellington play their first Western League fixture of the 2020/21 season this coming Saturday, September 5 - and they face each other, at Wellington, on Wednesday, September 16.