Chester-le-Street Town Juniors, who made a return to the FA Youth Cup last season after an absence of three seasons, are hoping for success when they entertain Southport FC Academy at Moor Park next Thursday evening.

Last season the Under 18s were involved in an entertaining tie but were beaten 3-2 at Emley in the first Qualifying Round.

This season the club could not have been presented with a more difficult tie, at home to Southport Academy, part of the Football League Conference Club.

The Academy is attached to the Programme for Academic and Sporting Excellence (PASE), and the club's sides compete in the PASE League, which is a feeder for the Football League Conference.

A Chester-le-Street spokesman said: "The tie is equivalent to us playing Scarborough."

However, the Cestrians think they have a chance with no fewer than 13 of their 19 man squad having either been trialists with or have been on the books of professional football clubs.

They have also made a 100 per cent start to life in the competitive Fairs Software Tyneside Junior League scoring 19 goals and conceding just one in the first three games - including a comfortable 3-1 victory over League Champions Whitley Bay on the opening day of the season.

Chester-le-Street's 19 man squad is: N. Hamed, S. Beckwith, A. Coulson, M. Renshaw, G. Draper, H. Flynn, K. Haggon, D. Newby, J. Taylor, D. Graham, S. Dawson, A. Smith, R. Draper, M. Adamson, C. Watson, D. Lowther, P. McDonald, M. Rome, A. Murray.

* The FA Youth Cup match, takes place on Thursday September 5, 2002, and is a 7.45pm kick-off at Moor Park. Last year the FA introduced new rules for the Youth Cup saying ties will be settled on the night with extra-time and penalties if required.