No Kidd-ing, it’s a great tie for Benfield

NORTHERN League Division One club Newcastle Benfield have landed a plum draw in the FA Cup third qualifying round.

Benfield will host former Football League opposition as National League North club Kidderminster Harriers travel to Sam Smith’s Park on the weekend of September 30.

The Harriers are currently sitting in 15th place in non-league’s second-tier.

The tie is rich reward for Benfield, who beat Evo-Stik League Ashton United to set up their date with the Harriers.

Benfield joint-manager Mark Convery admitted he was looking forward to the tie.

However, he insisted it would be business as usual when his side prepare for their big day.

Convey said: “I am looking forward to it.

“I think the biggest thing for us was the fact it seemed to take an age for the draw to come out.

“Now it has, my first thoughts are that we did not really mind who we were given.

“We will go about it as we have the previous two ties, where we have played two teams from higher leagues and got the result.

“We will go into the match full of confidence.”

Convery also asked for the North East football community to back his side, with a big attendance expected at Sam Smith’s Park.

He added: “It will be a very difficult tie.

“There are a lot of things going on at the club and some which people don’t see.

“We are trying to build a family club and get the atmosphere right, to make it a place where people want to bring their kids and their family.

“If you can get along, support your local club because it really does make a difference.”

Shildon are the only other Northern League club left in the competition and they have a tie at Evo-Stik Southern Premier League club Banbury United.

That leaves Daniel Moore’s side facing a 480-mile round-trip for what the Railwaymen’s boss believes is a “winnable tie.”

He said: “It is going to be a long way that one. I think it will be an over-nighter.

“However, when I have taken it in, it is a winnable tie.

“We have just beaten someone at the same standard so why can’t we do it again?”