First Round Bye For The Hatters

County have received a bye in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy for the 2010/11 season.

Sixteen teams are chosen at random to receive a bye in the first round of the competition, and they are as follows:

Northern Section: Bradford City, Burton Albion, Bury, Carlisle United, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Peterborough United and Stockport County.

Southern Section: Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United, Hereford United, Milton Keynes Dons, Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers.

Last season Gary Ablett’s County side saw off League Two Crewe 4-1 at Gresty Road with a Carl Baker hattrick, before being humiliated 3-1 at Port Vale in round two.

The bye could be a good omen for you superstitious ones, as the last time we received a bye in the competition was 2008, when Jim Gannon guided County to the semi-final of the competition before being defeated 2-1 at Edgeley Park by Grimsby Town – although County more than helped the Mariners by striking two own goals.

The full draw will be made for round one of the JPT on the first edition of Soccer AM on the 14th of August, with ties being played the week beginning the 30th of August.