Whoever wins the FA Trophy third round derby will move into the quarter-finals of non-league football's most prestigious knockout competion, and to within two victories of a day out at the home of English football.

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York will be overwhelming favourites, with the Minstermen having assembled a 13-game unbeaten run since Colin Walker took charge at KitKat Crescent, initially on a caretaker basis, in mid-November.

They also thumped Farsley 4-1 in west Leeds in the Blue Square Premier shortly before Walker's predecessor Billy McEwan was ushered through the exit door.

But that was Deacey's first game in charge and the Celts boss said: "York have come a long way since my first game here but I am hoping we have come a long way as well.

"I said at the time York were in a false position and they have proved me right. York are a play-offs side as far as I am concerned. They have a strong squad, and they have added to it as well.

"But we haven't got anything to lose – we have to go for it really because if you can win it then you really would get excited. After that you would be in the quarter-finals and you really would have to take it
seriously.

"We have proved we can compete with teams in this league, and proved we can compete with the best teams, so we are really looking forward to tomorrow."

Farsley have every reason to head into the tie in upbeat mood after securing their passage with a 2-0 win at Blue Square North side Alfreton in midweek, thanks to goals from Amjad Iqbal and Damien Reeves.

That followed a superb performance in front of the Setanta Sports television cameras nine days ago when Peter Taylor's much-fancied Stevenage had to settle for a point from a 0-0 draw at Throstle Nest – and they were lucky to get that.

The arrivals on-loan of midfielders Scott Gardner and Craig Bentham this month, as well as the permanent signings of centre-back Georges Santos and goalkeeper Curtis Aspden, from Hull City, have given Celtic a much-needed boost.

And a defence which was breached with alarming regularity in the first half of the season has seemingly found the bolts to the back door.
Deacey said: "We have had two clean sheets in our last two games and that is what we have to build on now. That has been our biggest problem this season, conceding too many goals.

"The standard has gone up this season, we were suffering, and we have had to look at the problem – that is why we brought Georges in. And Georges, Mark Jackson and Amjad Iqbal have been outstanding in the last couple of games."

Deacey added: "I have got the video of the league game against York and I thought we did alright for 80 minutes. After we got it back to 2-1 it was anybody's because they attacked, we attacked and so on.

"But they scored in the 83rd and 89th minutes and they were pathetic goals to concede. Three of their goals were down to absolutely shocking defensive mistakes.

"That's what we have been addressing, we have sorted it out in the last
couple of games and we must keep it going."
Deacey will be without Santos tomorrow as he is cup-tied, having played in the competition for Alfreton Town. Ryan Crossley is also still missing with a back injury.

But Roy Stamer, Steve Downes, Aspden and Gardner are added to the squad which secured Celtic's passage in midweek.

York's new loan signing Leo Fortune-West is cup-tied while Simon Rusk is also unavailable for the same reason.

But midfielder Nicky Wroe and defender Ben Purkiss are expected to shake off knocks. Purkiss could return for the suspended Darren Craddock.