Canvey Island must travel for the first time this season in the competition as they attempt to continue their progress in the FA Trophy.

Gulls will visit the winners of tonight's third-round clash between Norwich Victoria -- 12th in the Nationwide Conference -- and Barrow, currently standing third in the Premier Division of the Unibond League.

Happy returns - Chris Duffy (left) could be on his way back to Northwich Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Date for the round four affair is Saturday February 1 and, if Northwich get through to the big date, it will be a homecoming for Canvey's wing-back star Chris Duffy, who played for the Cheshire side before joining the Park Lane set-up more than three years ago.

Island boss Jeff King admitted that he was not surprised at having to travel this time in a competition which brought the club national fame two seasons ago when they won the Trophy.

He said: "After two home ties it was on the cards we'd come out of the hat second.

"Obviously whoever we play out of Northwich and Barrow will be tough, but we ended the hopes of four Conference clubs on our way to winning the Trophy two years ago.

"I've said many times recently that the overall squad we have now is the strongest ever at this club and, whoever we play, we won't be going into the game with any negative thoughts."

Canvey's more immediate thoughts are on tonight's Bryco Cup fourth round affair at fellow Premier Division Hitchin, where they laid the bogey of the Hertfordshire side, who they had never previously beaten away, with a 3-2 League success.

Published Tuesday, January 14, 2003

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