SECOND Division National Conference League clubs Heworth and York Acorn hit the glory trail on Saturday.

They both come into the second round stage of the National Cup and for Heworth it will certainly be an unknown quantity.

They entertain Folly Lane from the second division of the North West Counties League.

It is a game the Villagers should win, while York Acorn will also have home advantage over Cumberland League outfit Kells.

New Earswick All Blacks complete a trio of home ties for York-based sides when they host Stanningley who are NCL division two rivals of Acorn and Heworth.

Heworth's Carl Potter will rest a shoulder injury while Jason Gatus, who returned for his first game for the club for two years in Saturday's victory against Widnes St Maries, may miss out with a chest injury. Second row Wayne Foster is also an injury doubt for a game which club spokesman Ken Sykes believes could be the platform for better things.

"We do not now much about Folly Lane. From our point of view the league is more important but this competition can act as a springboard for us," he said.

Last Saturday's win was only Heworth's second NC victory of the season but the Folly Lane clash is an ideal opportunity to improve on the Villagers' recent poor record in the National Cup.

Acorn will be out for revenge when they face Kells as the Cumbrians knocked them out of the competition three years ago.

Blue and Golds' coach Dave Kay is expecting a tough game against a side which has a sprinkling of Cumbria BARLA players and ex-professionals from the Whitehaven and Workington clubs.

"On paper it is a game we should be winning. But I expect it will be tough.

"The Cumbrian League does not play many games and consequently their players can be fresher. That is probably one of the reasons their clubs have a good record in this competition."

Acorn have a doubt about Fran Starkey (knee) while hooker Michael Fitzsimons is unavailable.

All Blacks' game against Stanningley promises to be a cracker.

New Earswick spokesman Charles Rollinson said: "It will be the first time we have played a National League side - apart from Heworth and Acorn - since we moved out of the National League three years ago.

"It is a chance to see how far the club has progressed since we restructured it."

Knee injuries rule out centre Dave Calam and winger Shaun Bewley, but on the plus side full-back Dave Carling, second row Jamie Rhodes, prop Eddie Kemp and Dan Wellard should return after missing the 32-18 defeat at Siddal in the Pennine President's Cup last Saturday.

Heworth 'A' have been handed a home tie in the second round of the Yorkshire League Alliance Cup. They will play Chequerfield at Elm Park Way on Saturday, February 5.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, December 09, 2004