Dorcester Town will be the first visitors to Cressing Road this season

Braintree Town will host Dorchester at Cressing Road on the opening day of the Blue Square South season.

Manager Lee Patterson's men will face the Dorset club on 9 August, with their first away fixture taking them to Welling United the following week.

The Iron will be visited by local rivals Chelmsford City on 25 August, with the away trip on 13 April.

The Christmas schedule of last season's play-off semi-finalists includes home and away games with Bishops Stortford.