BARROW AFC have been handed a tricky away tie at Shaw Lane in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

The Barnsley side operate two leagues below Barrow in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and are flying high in top spot.

The match will take place on Saturday, October 14, but before that the Bluebirds have two big National League matches to contend with, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Hartlepool United and followed by Leyton Orient at home on Saturday.

A decent FA Cup run would be a welcome distraction for AFC boss Micky Moore, whose side sit just one point and one place above the relegation zone following Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Maidstone United.

The Bluebirds enjoyed a glorious time in the world’s oldest knockout competition last season under former boss Paul Cox, and how AFC supporters would love another exciting cup run after what has been a difficult first few months of the season.

AFC’s Cup campaign in 2016/17 started with a 2-1 fourth qualifying round home win over National League big guns Tranmere 2-1, resulting in a long trip south to lower-league Taunton Town.

A 2-2 draw in Somerset was followed by a 2-1 replay win for Barrow, and with it came a trip to League One Bristol Rovers in the second round.

AFC went into the game as big underdogs, but with Cox’s mean unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions and flying high in the top five of the National League, they travelled south quietly confident of causing an upset.

And despite going 1-0 down, Barrow responded superbly and two well-taken Byron Harrison goals earned a stunning 2-1 victory.

Barrow’s form dipped over the Christmas period, but they were still lying sixth in the table when League One Rochdale and the BBC’s Football Focus cameras came to town for Third Round day and hopes were high for another major scalp.

However, it was not to be, with Rochdale proving too strong and winning comfortably 2-0.