Farsley get home advantage for Trophy opener (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Farsley looking to avoid repeat of first-hurdle Trophy exit

5:40pm Monday 9th July 2012 in Farsley By Ian Whiting

Farsley have been handed a home tie against Evo-Stik League Division One North rivals Radcliffe Borough in the preliminary round of the FA Trophy.

That match is on Saturday, September 29 and a win at Throstle Nest would lead to a tie at either Warrington Town or Leek Town in the first qualifying round.

Neil Parsley’s men will be taking nothing for granted after falling at the first hurdle last season, when they drew 2-2 at home to promotion rivals Curzon Ashton before losing the replay 2-0.

Blue Square Bet North Division trio Bradford Park Avenue, Guiseley and FC Halifax Town do not come into the competition until the third qualifying round.

Conference (Blue Square Bet Premier) clubs then enter at the following stage, the first-round proper.

Brighouse Town’s reward for their fourth-place finish in the Baris Northern Counties East League Premier Division last season is a bye through the qualifying rounds of this term’s FA Vase.

Town will skip both the first and second qualifying stages but face an away tie in the first-round proper against the winners of the Hall Road Rangers v Chadderton clash.

Liversedge, Thackley and Eccleshill United are all in at the first hurdle, with only Sedge having been handed home advantage.

They host North Shields while the Dennyboys and the Eagles both travel to the north-east, Thackley to face West Allotment Celtic and Eccleshill against Darlington Railway Athletic.

If Sedge beat North Shields they too will then head north to take on Shildon but Thackley would be at home to either Celtic Nation or Birtley Town.

The Eagles’ task would become increasingly difficult as the dubious reward for victory at Darlington would be a trip to Bedlington Terriers.

Silsden come in at that second qualifying round stage and have a home tie against Northallerton Town Should any of their neighbours join Brighouse in the first-round proper the odds would be against them going any further.

Sedge would be away at either Yorkshire Amateur or South Shields, Eccleshill would face a trip to Tow Law Town, Penrith or Horton CW and Thackley would be up against Scarborough Athletic.

Thackley would at least have home advantage if they were to progress. Silsden would also be at home against one of four Northern League clubs.