DARLINGTON'S reward for their victory over Altrincham in the second round of the FA Cup, was a far from glamorous replay of the Division Three play-off final of 2000, with Peterborough heading to Feethams on the weekend of January 5.
In a far from exciting third round draw - the highlight being Aston Villa's game against Manchester United - all four of the North-East clubs can have reasons for expecting to make it into the fourth round.
As well as Darlington, Sunderland and Newcastle both have home ties to West Brom and Crystal Palace respectively.
Middlesbrough appear to have the toughest task with a trip to Wimbledon - the team who beat them in the competition last season.
York will travel to Grimsby after seeing off big-spending Reading at Bootham Crescent.
Nick Richardson put the Minstermen in front after four minutes and Graham Potter doubled the lead four minutes before the interval to seal victory for Terry Dolan's team.
Canvey Island were reward for causing another FA Cup upset with a trip to face Division One leaders Burnley.
The Essex club are the only non-league team certain to be in the competition as the FA Barclaycard Premiership and Division One clubs get involved.
Canvey have knocked out Second Division opponents Wigan and Northampton in rounds one and two, and now face a tough test at Turf Moor.
An early second-half strike from Neil Gregory was enough to see off the Cobblers at Canvey Island's tiny Park Lane ground.
''It's a bit early for us as it has yet to sink in,'' said Canvey boss Jeff King.
''They are a big club with a great tradition and we are looking forward to it.''
Neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge will be at home to Ipswich in the third round if they can overcome Exeter in a replay at the Victoria Sports Ground.
The Daggers held the Third Division side to a goalless draw at St James Park on Saturday evening and may fancy their chances of setting up a clash against the Tractor Boys after taking Charlton to a replay in last season's competition.
Wycombe, last season's surprise FA Cup semi-finalists, could claim another Premiership scalp after being drawn against Fulham.
Lawrie Sanchez's side lost to cup treble-winners Liverpool at Villa Park in the final four last season but will aim to put Jean Tigana's cosmopolitan side out of the competition after knocking out Notts County.
Third Division side Macclesfield will host West Ham at Moss Rose after thrashing Swansea 4-1 at home.
The Silkmen were quite fortunate to even be in the second round, seeing off Conference side Forest Green in an epic first-round replay which eventually ended 11-10 in a penalty shoot-out.
Mansfield, who thrashed Second Division Huddersfield 4-0 at Field Mill with highly-rated striker Chris Greenacre hitting a hat-trick, have been drawn away at Leicester, who fell victim to Wycombe in the FA Cup last season.
Wayne Corden claimed the other goal for the Stags as Lou Macari's side were run off their feet.
Blackpool will travel to the capital to face Charlton in the third round.
The Seasiders, who have lifted the trophy only once in the 1953 'Matthews Final' beat Lancashire rivals Rochdale 2-0 thanks to goals from John Murphy and Paul Simpson to set up a trip at The Valley.
Scunthorpe have been pitted against Millwall in round three after dishing out a shock by overcoming powerful Second Division promotion hopefuls Brentford 3-2 at Glanford Park.
Martin Carruthers scored twice to put the Irons through
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