by Jeff King
A third successive tough challenge for United with another game against higher ranked opposition and for the second time in seven days a chance for Cup glory as they travel to Billingham to take on Yarm & Eaglescliffe.
This game is a second round Ernest Armstrong Second Division tie against a side United have already faced twice in the League this season with honours very much even.
Back in early August last year a late Dan Walton winner gave United a 1 - 0 victory at Bedford Terrace, a result the Y & E reversed back in November at The Ford Hub in another tight game. In those two encounters there wasn't much between the two sides.
Y & E though are having an excellent season and currently sit 2nd in the Second Division table having 81 points from 35 games made up of 25 wins 6 draws and only 4 defeats. They've scored 88 goals in those games and conceded only 33.
Top scorers for Yarm are Tom Atkinson who has 36 goals in total and his 35 league goals make him the top scorer in the whole country at Step 6. His striker partner Josh Larkin has 21 for the season which includes 18 in the League.
Yarm reached this round with a convincing 6 - 0 win over Bedlington Terriers at home and are a very difficult solid, hard-working well organised side that will really test United in this fixture.
United though can take heart from their last two performances despite losing two-goal leads in both. Boro Rangers were 2nd top of the First Division and Chester took them all the way whilst 3rd placed Jarrow were fortunate to escape with a 3 - 2 win last Saturday.
Kick-off for Tuesday night's game is at 19:30pm.
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