Bury manager Anthony Johnson has labelled this weekend's FA Cup tie against Harrogate Town as the toughest possible draw his club could have received. The match, which will be broadcast live on BBC Red Button and iPlayer at 12.30pm on Saturday, pits the part-time Northern Premier League side against a Harrogate team sitting second in the National League.

Johnson was unequivocal about the challenge. "It is going to be as tough of a test as you can get," he said. He explained that with league leaders Boreham Wood unavailable, Harrogate Town represented the next most difficult opponent. "We couldn’t get Boreham Wood, who are top of the National League, so to get Harrogate Town, it doesn’t get any tougher," Johnson stated. He believes the top end of the National League is stronger than the bottom of League Two, making this a significant benchmark.

A benchmark for progress

For Johnson, the high-profile fixture is a vital opportunity to gauge Bury's development. "It allows us to see how close we can get to a full time, professional outfit," he explained. He added that while Bury do not consider themselves a full-time side, the match gives them a platform to test and show themselves against a club that has recently come out of the Football League. Johnson also noted the symbolic value of the television coverage, saying, "The fact it is on the TV and people get to see it proves Bury is on its way back, it’s as simple as that."

Bury arrive at the tie in strong form, having won six of their last eleven league games and scoring 15 goals in three FA Cup qualifying rounds against Wythenshawe, Workington, and Bromsgrove Sporting. Their last outing was a 3-2 league win at Alfreton. The team's recent stats show they have averaged over two goals per game in the league this season.

They face a Harrogate Town side in formidable league form. Simon Weaver's team are second in the National League with 28 points from 13 games, having won nine and drawn one. They are currently on a four-match winning streak in the league, with their last result a 1-0 victory at Woking on October 10th. After this cup clash, their focus returns to the league promotion race, where they trail leaders Boreham Wood by seven points. Their next league fixture, is at home to Sutton United on October 24th.

The original report is at The Bury Times