DARLINGTON will be at home when they enter the FA Cup later this month, but Spennymoor Town will be heading on the road and could find themselves involved in an all-North-East encounter.

Clubs in National League North enter the FA Cup at the second qualifying round stage, and Darlington will host league rivals Southport at Blackwell Meadows on Saturday, September 17.

The Quakers are currently 12 places above their opponents in the league table, with Southport having won just two of their opening seven league games this season.

The two sides have already met this season, with Darlington slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Southport in the middle of last month.

Spennymoor Town were handed an away draw, and will take on the winners of the first qualifying round replay between Clitheroe and Heaton Stannington.

The two sides drew 1-1 at Clitheroe at the weekend, with Heaton Stannington, who play in the Northern League, claiming a creditable result given that their opponents play at a level above them in the  Northern Premier League West Division. The teams will replay at Heaton Stannington’s Grounsell Park ground on Wednesday evening.

A home win in that game would set up a second all-North-East tie in the second qualifying round, with the draw having thrown up one guaranteed regional showdown with Shildon set to host South Shields.

South Shields are a step above Shildon in the Northern Premier league, and currently sit in third position in the table after a strong start to the season. They booked their place in the second qualifying round with a 3-2 win over Workington at the weekend. Shildon, who play in the Northern Premier East, saw off Penistone Church 2-1 in the first qualifying round.

Dunston will head to Scarborough Athletic in the second qualifying round, while there will be an eagerly-awaited North Yorkshire derby with Whitby Town set to host Marske United.

Blyth Spartans are at home to Guiseley, while Morpeth Town will head to Hyde United if they win their first qualifying round replay against Warrington Town.

The winners of this month’s second qualifying round ties will receive £3,375, while the losers will pocket £1,125.