Bristol Rovers learn FA Cup first round opponent as home tie with Rochdale in store

Bristol Rovers will renew their rivalry with Rochdale at the Memorial Stadium after drawing them in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Gas beat the Dale in dramatic circumstances in their penultimate game of the season which helped them on their goal to achieving promotion from League Two. Rochdale rushed in to a two-goal lead back in April in the first-half and at one point lead 3-1after Sam Finley had cancelled out Luke Charman's brace. Top scorer Aaron Collins however scored a hat-trick, including a winning goal in the 95th minute to spark jubilant scenes which saw fans enter the pitch at Spotland.

The two teams have not played in the FA Cup since 2002 when Rochdale beat them 3-2 in a replay following a 1-1 draw in the first match.

The tie is to take place on the first weekend of November with the available dates being Friday, November 4 to Monday, November 7. If Bristol Rovers beat Rochdale then they would pocket up more than £41,000 and be one round away from playing inter-city rivals Bristol City.

Rochdale are just outside the relegation zone in League Two having won just three games all season, which saw Robbie Stockdale leave in mid-August. He was replaced by Jim Bentley who managed both Morecambe and National League North outfit AFC Fylde.

In the last meeting between the two at the Memorial Stadium, Rovers came out on top in a 4-2 victory in mid-December. Rovers had a two goal lead after Antony Evans and Aaron Collins scored but Jake Beesley scored twice inside six minutes to level proceedings. Harry Anderson restored Rovers' lead before Collins scored a minute before stoppage time.

FA Cup first round draw

• 1 South Shields v Forest Green Rovers

• 2 Bolton Wanderers v Barnsley
• 3 Boreham Wood v Eastleigh
• 4 Curzon Ashton v Cambridge United
• 5 Maidenhead United v Dagenham & Redbridge
• 6 Crawley Town v Accrington Stanley
• 7 Solihull Moors v Hartlepool United
• 8 Kidderminster Harriers or AFC Fylde v Gillingham
• 9 Peterborough United v Salford City
• 10 Sutton United v Farnborough
• 11 Grimsby Town v Plymouth Argyle
• 12 MK Dons v Yeovil Town or Taunton
• 13 Ebbsfleet United v FC Halifax Town
• 14 Carlisle United v Tranmere Rovers
• 15 Bracknell Town v Ipswich Town
• 16 Hendon or Chippenham Town v Lincoln City
• 17 Sheffield Wednesday v Morecambe
• 18 Hereford v Portsmouth
• 19 Shrewsbury Town v York City
• 20 Buxton v Merthyr Town
• 21 Charlton Athletic v Coalville Town
• 22 Weymouth v AFC Wimbledon
• 23 Newport County v Colchester United
• 24 Stockport County v Swindon Town
• 25 Doncaster Rovers v King’s Lynn Town
• 26 Altrincham or Gateshead v Stevenage
• 27 Fleetwood Town v Oxford City
• 28 Burton Albion v Needham Market
• 29 Bradford City v Harrogate Town
• 30 Port Vale v Exeter City
• 31 Torquay United or Hampton & Richmond v Derby County
• 32 Bristol Rovers v Rochdale
• 33 Wycombe Wanderers v Walsall
• 34 Blyth Spartans or Wrexham v Oldham Athletic or Chester
• 35 Crewe Alexandra v Leyton Orient
• 36 Barnet v Chelmsford City
• 37 Woking v Oxford United
• 38 Chesterfield v Northampton Town
• 39 Cheltenham Town v Alvechurch
• 40 Barrow v Mansfield Town