Blackburn carrot for Blyth Spartans

Published on Sunday 30 November 2008 22:43

BLYTH Spartans and Barrow were the luckiest of the non-league teams after the draw for the FA Cup third round was made yesterday.

Blyth, who play on the outskirts of Newcastle, have the tantalising prospect of a home tie against Blackburn Rovers to provide them with additional motivation for their second-round replay against Bournemouth.

The Conference North side held on for a 0-0 draw away to their League Two opponents on Saturday evening.

Barrow were rewarded for their victory over Brentford on Friday night after being handed a mouthwatering trip to Middlesbrough.

The other non-league sides left in the hat didn't get quite the plum ties they would have hoped for. Histon, conquerors of Leeds United, were given another home tie, against Swansea City, while Eastwood Town, who stunned Wycombe Wanderers, face a trip to Notts County or Kettering.

Portsmouth begin the defence of the Cup they won last May with a potentially hazardous tie at home to Bristol City. Liverpool and Manchester United face tricky trips to face Championship opposition, with the Anfield side heading for Preston North End and the Old Trafford men handed a long trip south to face Southampton.

Arsenal and Chelsea will fancy their chances when they welcome Plymouth Argyle and Southend United respectively, but Aston Villa are unlikely to have things all their own way when they travel to face the winners of the replay between Gillingham and Stockport. League Two outfit Macclesfield were handed a glamour tie at home to Everton, while Championship side Sheffield Wednesday will fancy their chances of causing an upset when they welcome Fulham. There are three all Premier League ties, with Hull City hosting Newcastle, Tottenham welcoming Wigan and Sunderland entertaining a Bolton side who put four goals past them in the league on Saturday.

Droylsden suffered the hard-luck story of the round on Saturday after their clash at Chesterfield was abandoned due to fog while they led 1-0. The winners of that tie face a trip to Ipswich Town in the third round.

Forest Green humbled Rochdale 2-0 and were rewarded with a home tie against Derby County while Torquay United will host Blackpool after seeing off Oxford United.

League One leaders Leicester City survived a scare at home to Dagenham to squeeze through with a 3-2 victory and set up a home tie with Crystal Palace. Hartlepool did likewise against Fleetwood Town to set up a home tie with Stoke City.