FARSLEY Celtic will welcome Vanarama National League outfit Southport for a big FA Trophy first round tie on Saturday after a landslide win over National North opposition in the last round.

The Celts will be in buoyant mood as they host the Sandgrounders after steamrollering Tamworth in a third qualifying round replay.

The Lambs earned a second bite after scoring a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Throstle Nest, only to be beaten 4-0 in the replay, with James Walshaw claiming a hat-trick and Richard Marshall also netting.

Farsley followed that with a rare defeat in Evo-Stik Division One North but got back to winning ways in midweek when they reached the last eight of the West Riding County Cup.

If league form is any guide, then that is another plus for Farsley this weekend.

While the Celts are pushing for promotion in their division, Port are just outside the relegation zone in the National League.

Steve Burr’s team are above the drop zone by just one point and are only three points better off than Guiseley, so they are deep in a survival struggle.

They will also be mindful that FC Halifax Town won the FA Trophy in the showpiece final at Wembley last season but also suffered relegation from the top tier of non-league football.

Farsley’s neighbours Brighouse Town missed out on a chance to leapfrog the Celts in midweek but they have another opportunity on Saturday.

It is another tough game for Paul Quinn’s men though as they visit a Trafford side who are second in the league and who inflicted that rare defeat on Farsley with a 1-0 win at the Nest last weekend.

Trafford are the highest scorers in the division but are only three points better off than Brighouse after playing the same number of games, despite Quinn’s men being in ninth.

Just three points separate eight clubs, from Trafford to Brighouse, in a ridiculously congested top of the table.

Leaders Scarborough Athletic are only two points clear and they have played two games more.