PARK Avenue boss John Deacey admits he is amazed that his side have drawn Kidderminster Harriers yet again.

This week's FA Trophy draw threw up a repeat of last season’s tie in the first round proper, while the clubs also met twice in the FA Cup last year before the Conference Premier outfit went through after a replay.

The midlands side will certainly not need a SatNav when they make their third journey to Horsfall Stadium in 12 months next Saturday.

Deacey said: “When I heard the draw I just couldn’t believe it. You couldn’t make it up and if you wrote it people would say it was too far fetched. It really is incredible.

“I don’t know what the odds are on a draw picking out the same two teams two years running. Not just that but we’re also playing a club that we played twice in the FA Cup last season. We've drawn them twice in the only two knockout competitions that the clubs could possibly have met in.

“I thought we played really well against them last season, when they were top and second in the Conference Premier. They were good games, all three of them, and I didn’t think there was much to choose between the sides.

“Once again playing Kidderminster will be a major test for our players but these are the types of game that you look forward to. The bigger the challenge the more it lifts your performance.”

The Harriers have not had as good a start to this campaign but they are in eighth place, just one point behind Avenue’s neighbours FC Halifax Town who are considered as promotion contenders.

Bradford can also take heart from last season’s head-to-head statistics with Harriers as they earned revenge for their FA Cup replay defeat with a 2-1 win at home in the Trophy.

Avenue cannot afford to be distracted by next week's tie as they have two important games before that.

Deacey said: “We can’t look too far forward just yet because we’ve got Harrogate tomorrow (in the league) and then Farsley on Monday (in the West Riding County FA Cup quarter-final) first. It’s going to be quite a week.”

Deacey enjoyed over 500 games for Harrogate Town, while his playing days ended with a spell at Farsley after which he became their coach, assistant and then manager.