ALL you need to know ahead of Bradford (Park Avenue)'s FA Cup second qualifying round tie with fellow Vanarama National League North side Spennymoor Town.

Kick-off: Saturday, October 3 (3pm)

Venue: Horsfall Stadium

Form Guide

It is hard to take a lot away from pre-season results, but Spennymoor will certainly try too. Town were 100% from their four friendlies, albeit all against lower league opposition.

COVID, the new pitch and last-minute pull outs have caused a disrupted preparation period for Mark Bower's side.

Farsley Celtic revenge and a Thackley hammering were the highlights, while dominate Yorkshire Amateur and a leakage at Liversedge may have temporarily adjusted fans' hopes for the new campaign.

Last week, the pair were suppose to face each other in their final friendly before it got cancelled at the last minute.

FA Cup record

In recent years, Bradford have really struggled in the most prestigious cup competition in world football.

For a club who have reached two quarter finals in their illustrious past, no first round appearance in almost a decade is disappointing.

A 3-1 loss to football league side Doncaster Rovers condemned John Deacey men in 2012/13, and who can forget the year previous.

I think it is safe to say the name AFC Totton was quickly erased from the minds of the Horsfall faithful after that disastrous day.

At this stage last year, Marcus Law's team were embarrassed by Morpeth Town as they went down 4-2 at home.

Since reforming as Town, Spennymoor have only successfully qualified once. Back in 2016/17, they narrowly lost out 3-2 at MK Dons.

Jason Ainsley's side almost repeated that feat last term before getting knocked out in the final qualifying round away at Chorley.

Team news

New Avenue loanee Lewis Bradley is a doubt after suffering from illness in the week.

James Curtis will miss the tie for Town as he serves the final game of his three-match suspension from the end of last season, while recent signing Scott McLean will have to wait to make his competitive debut also due to suspension.

Spennymoor duo Jamie Spencer and Ben Mckenna could be in line for starts against their former club.

Possible line-ups

Avenue

GK Dan Atkinson, RB Mark Ross, CB Mitch Lund, CB Luca Havern, LB Matty Downing, CM Nicky Clee, CM Jake Hibbs, CM Isaac Marriott, RW Lewis Knight, ST Oli Johnson, LW Brad Dockerty.

Spennymoor

GK Eve, RB Forbes, CB Joe Tait, CB James Curtis, LB Blakeman, CM Jason Kennady, CM Jamie Spencer, CM Robert Ramshaw, RW Adriano Moke, ST Glenn Taylor, LW Ben Mckenna

Battle to watch: Marriott v Ramshaw

This tie could easily be won and loss in the midfield. Avenue have a mix of youth and experience, while the visitors will field a stern trio.

Marriott has been Park Avenue's most impressive player in pre-season and really looks to have made that number 10 role his own. Bower will be looking at him to go make the difference.

Town's Ramshaw has been a reliable figure for years, providing assists and getting goals off his own back. Bradford must watch out for his decisive runs.

Head to head

It is the first time the pair have met in a cup competition.

The playoff defeat up in the North East in 2018 will be forever edged in Avenue's recent history.

In the other six league meetings, the Moors slightly boost the better record, recording three wins compared to Avenue's two.

The last clash is certainly one to forget for Bradford, a painful 3-0 defeat at The Brewery Field, but they did earn a respectable draw in the reverse fixture.