TOWN have one last chance of a cup run this season – and they will find out who they face at the first hurdle a week today.
The draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup takes place live on BBC1 at 5.10, soon after the fourth qualifying round ties have finished.
There are 32 of those, and the victors will all be hoping for a home tie against the likes of Town, who are five-times competition finalists and winners in 1922.
Among the non-league sides involved next Saturday are West Yorkshire trio Bradford Park Avenue, Farsley Celtic and Halifax Town.
Avenue host Gainsborough, Farsley entertain Barrow and Halifax head for Evesham.
Other interesting Northern names include Kendal Town (home to Altrincham), Southport (home to Northwich Victoria) and Workington (home to Boston United).
While Town will hope for a home tie or a reasonably short trip, the first round proper draw is national.
So it’s possible Andy Ritchie’s men could be paired with Ware or Tonbridge Angels, AFC Hornchurch or Team Bath, or Eastbourne Borough or Bromley, who will all scrap it out for the right to go into the hat with teams from Leagues I and II.
Whoever Town face on the weekend of November 10/11, they will be seeking a first cup win in seven ties.
The run of defeats began at Chelsea (2-1 in the FA Cup third round in 2005-06).
Last season, there were home setbacks in all three competitions, with Mansfield winning 2-0 in the Carling Cup, Doncaster 2-1 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and Blackpool 1-0 in the FA Cup.
This season, they went down 1-0 at Blackpool in the Carling and 4-1 at Grimsby in the JPT.
Town’s last knockout success was at Worcester City, beaten 1-0 in the FA Cup second round in December 2005.
