A TRIO of the area's clubs have been paired with Northern League teams in the draw for the preliminary round of next season's FA Cup.

UniBond League club Harrogate Town, now with John Reed as manager following Mick Hennigan's move upstairs, face a potential banana skin at West Auckland Town, while Wilkinson Sword Trophy holders Pickering Town, newly promoted to the NCEL first division, travel to Shotton Comrades.

Knockout kings Selby Town - they won the Northern Counties East League President's Cup last season while their reserves lifted the Barkston Ash FA Challenge Cup and the veterans took the Umbro Veterans Over-35s Trophy - entertain Northern League outfit South Shields.

Elsewhere, Tadcaster Albion, who finished bottom of the NCEL last season, have been handed a difficult fixture away to UniBond League outfit Ossett Town, while Harrogate Railway entertain Wilkinson Sword Trophy finalists Bridlington Town and Goole visit NCEL premier division rivals Thackley.

The first and second qualifying rounds have also been drawn, and in the latter, Pickering Town, should they get through, would entertain former League club Accrington Stanley.

The draw for the early rounds of the FA Umbro Trophy, FA Carlsberg Vase and FA Youth Cup have also been made.

Pickering and Selby could meet in second qualifying round of the Vase if they both get through, while Selby's youngsters could face Scarborough's kids if they both reach the second qualifying round of the Youth Cup.

FA Cup Preliminary Round (selected fixtures): Ossett Town v Tadcaster Albion; West Auckland Town v Harrogate Town; Shotton Comrades v Pickering Town; Selby Town v South Shields; Harrogate Railway v Bridlington Town; Thackley v Goole. Matches to be played Saturday, September 1, kick off 3pm.

First qualifying round (selected fixtures): Squires Gate or Oldham Town v Ossett Town or Tadcaster Albion; Parkgate or Crook Town v Shotton Comrades or Pickering Town; Selby Town or South Shields v Woodley Sports or Gretna; Hatfield Main or Prescot Cables or Salford City v West Auckland Town or Harrogate Town; Thackley or Goole v Chadderton or Maltby Main; Harrogate Railway or Bridlington Town v Glasshoughton Welfare or Winsford United. Matches to be played Saturday, September 15, kick off 3pm.

Second qualifying round (selected fixtures): Selby Town or South Shields or Woodley Sports or Gretna v Yorkshire Amateur or Shildon or Brigg Town or Great Harwood Town or Morpeth Town; Hatfield Main or Prescot Cables or Salford City or West Auckland Town or Harrogate Town v Burscough; Billingham Synthonia or Tow Law Town or Liversedge or Darwen v Harrogate Railway or Bridlington Town or Glasshoughton Welfare or Winsford United; Thackley or Goole or Chadderton or Maltby Main v Garforth Town or Rossendale United or Guisborough Town or Bacup Borough; Squires Gate or Oldham Town or Ossett Town or Tadcaster Albion v Ossett Albion or Bedlington Terriers or Peterlee Newtown or Castleton Gabriels; Parkgate or Crook Town or Shotton Comrades or Pickering Town v Accrington Stanley. Matches to be played Saturday, September 29.

FA Umbro Trophy first round (selected fixture): Harrogate Town v Colwyn Bay. Saturday, November 3. Matches to be played Saturday, November 3.

Second round (selected fixture): Kendal Town or Bradford Park Avenue v Harrogate Town or Colwyn Bay. Matches to be played Saturday December 1.

FA Carlsberg Vase first round qualifying (selected fixtures): Poulton Victoria v Pickering Town; Selby Town v Easington Colliery. Matches to be played Saturday, September 8.

Second round qualifying (selected fixtures): Harrogate Railway v Brodsworth; Poulton Victoria or Pickering Town v Selby Town or Easington Colliery; Goole v Hallam; Tadcaster Albion v Hatfield Main. Matches to be played Saturday, September 22.

AXA FA Youth Cup first round qualifying (selected fixtures): Hallam v Selby Town; Scarborough Glossop North End.

Second round qualifying (selected fixtures): Hallam or Selby Town v Scarborough or Glossop North End.

Third round qualifying (selected fixtures): Doncaster Rovers or Emley or Chester-le-Street Town v Hallam or Selby Town or Scarborough or Glossop North End.

Updated: 11:31 Friday, July 06, 2001