The Celts travelled to Alfreton Town for their second round replay on Tuesday evening knowing a "plum tie" awaited the winners in the last 16 of the national knockout competition for non-league football's best clubs.

But Celts player James Knowles, who set up the opening goal, revealed it was the thought of Saturday's match at Exeter – which has now been postponed – that drove his team on to a 2-0 win.

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"We knew York were waiting, but the biggest thing that spurred us on is no-one wanted to go to Exeter on Friday night," laughed Knowles. "All the lads were saying we had to win because we didn't fancy the
alternative.

"We went down to Weymouth the other week. We travelled down on the Friday and stayed in a hotel overnight and then the match was called off the next day. Seven-and-a-half hours there and seven-and-a-half hours back, it's not ideal, but that is part of what we are in this league for.

"We know we have to go to Exeter some time, but right now all the lads prefer to play York. And I think we have got a bit of a score to settle after they gave us a hiding at our place in the league.

"The lads are definitely up for it and I do think we can do a job because we have got the belief back now."

Knowles missed out through suspension when Farsley went down 4-1 at home to the Minstermen in front of the Setanta Sports television cameras in November.

It was John Deacey's first game in charge, and the former number two has now had the chance to implement his own ideas following the opening of the transfer window this month.

An influx of new faces, including the likes of Curtis Aspden, Georges Santos, Craig Bentham and Scott Gardner, has boosted competition for places and the Celts are benefiting.

York will be a tough proposition, with the Minstermen having gone 13 matches without defeat since Colin Walker took the reins from Billy McEwan a fortnight after their last visit to the Nest – and they shot down Blue Square Premier leaders Aldershot last weekend.

But Farsley stunned much-fancied Stevenage in their last league outing, Peter Taylor's side happy to escape Throstle Nest with a draw in the end, to boost their survival hopes and get the players dreaming of a Wembley day out in the FA Trophy final.

Knowles said: "We're trying not to get ahead of ourselves, but a couple of the lads were saying on Tuesday it would be a dream come true to play at Wembley and you never know.

"A couple of the big teams in our league have gone out and though there are some tough teams left, including York, we do tend to play better against the better teams and when there is a lot at stake.

"York are a massive team and they are on a great run and if we can get past them we might start to think about it more. But York is a big game for us in itself, there will hopefully be a bumper crowd, and we are really looking forward to it.

"I think the team is doing really well at the moment, we have picked up since Christmas, and hopefully we can get a result on Sunday."