THIS Saturday Boro have a respite from the hurly-burly of league action in the form of an FA Trophy game.

Kevin Glendon's boys go down to Hucknall Town's Nottinghamshire home for a second round clash, kick off 3pm.

Hucknall, of course, were Unibond Premier champions last season and won promotion to the new Conference North, where they currently lie 13th, with 23 points from 17 games.

Last season Boro emerged from Watnall Road with an impressive 1-1 draw, thanks to a late Tony Carroll strike.

The corresponding game at Stainton Park, however, ended in a 6-1 thrashing, with Steve Foster getting Boro's only goal.

Town are now managed by former Bury fullback, Dean Barrick.

While at Gigg Lane the 35-year-old Yorkshireman played 29 games for the Shakers, scoring one goal

Steve Burr signed him for Hucknall in the summer of 2003, and he was a member of the side that ran away with the Unibond Premiership title.

Burr was replaced by Ernie Moss at the start of the current campaign in Conference North, but he only lasted nine games before being replaced by Barrick as player-manager.

Initially he was given the reins on a caretaker basis until Christmas, but he has since been told he is in charge for the rest of the season.

"The lads have showed a great attitude since I took over," he said.

"We were right down there struggling and now we have given ourselves a chance to progress up the table, weve worked hard and got our just rewards, we just have to keep it up.

"As for Radcliffe, I've seen them play a few times, the most recent being against Warrington.

"They try to knock it around and play football, and they have a few lads I know from my Bury days.

"I understand Steve Halford is cup-tied, but Martyn Forrest should be playing and if he does he'll want the ball, he'll want to pass it around, and Phil Denney is always a handful up front, so we are expecting a tough game."

In addition to managing and playing for a major non-league side, Barrick also holds down a fulltime job as a PE teacher.

"They are both very time consuming, but it is what I am used to," he explained.

"While I was at Bury I studied for a degree and started a property business, so I am used to being busy.

"I still get back to Bury quite a lot, due to my business, and I stop over at weekends if we are playing a Lancashire team.

"I still keep in touch with some of the lads and I'm looking forward to meeting up with Steve, Phil, and Martyn again after we have knocked them out of course!"