Match Preview :- Blyth Spartans - Tuesday August 17th, 2010 (19:45:00)
Celtic will make their first away trip on Tuesday, and it?s a long one as we travel up to the northeast to face Blyth Spartans. This will be Blyth?s first home match of the season, having kicked their season off with an away loss at Solihull Moors. This has left Blyth twentieth in the league, level with Redditch, and ahead of Hyde on goal difference. There is no match centre for this game, and there is no coach. However, live highlights are sometimes put on Blyth?s twitter page, which (if available) will be accessible from their web-site home page.

Admission to Blyth for this match is as follows:
Adults = ?10.00 (?1.50 extra in ?Port of Blyth? Stand)
Concessions = ?5.50 (?1 extra in ?Port of Blyth? Stand)*
Under 10?s = Free if accompanied by an adult (50p extra in ?Port of Blyth? Stand)
Programme = ?1.50
* Concessions includes Under 16's, OAP's and Students with Student ID

In their opening match, the suffered at the league?s first goal this season, scored after twenty-four seconds when Matt West attempted a speculative forty-yard lob, almost from the kick off.

Blyth finished last season in thirteenth having won thirteen games, and losing eighteen. Three of those games were their last three games, including their last home game, which they lost 3-2 to Fleetwood Town. Their last home win was in April, when they beat Gainsborough 2-1. They beat Celtic twice last season, once at home (4-1) and once away (1-0) in successive weeks during Celtic?s poor end to the season. In previous games, Celtic have had a good record against Blyth, winning five and drawing one of our last ten visits. At Bower Fold it?s even better, winning eight and drawing three of our last twelve matches. Our last win at Croft Park was in March 2008, a 1-0 win, with a last gasp goal after Blyth Keeper Adam Bartlett had stopped a point blank shot from Simon Garner, Steve Payne was there to knock in the rebound.

Last season?s top scorer for Blyth was Paul Brayson, and he is still there, taking the captain?s armband for the defeat away at Solihull. His twenty-eight goals were nearly half of all the goals Blyth scored. His closest rival for the golden boot was Ian Graham, with eleven and Robbie Dale with nine. In total, they scored sixty-seven goals at a 1.6 goals per game ratio (1.9 at home), whilst the conceded seventy-four with a 1.8 goals conceded per game ratio (1.5 at home). Their most dangerous period was around half time when they scored thirteen goals, whilst their most vulnerable was the hour mark, where they conceded fifteen goals.

Chris McCabe will be missing for Blyth, as he has injured knee, whilst manager Mark Tait has a touchline ban. Stephen Turnbull suspended was suspended for their last match, but appears to be available again now. In their last match, the 2-0 defeat at Solihull, Blyth lined up as:
1. Sam Grieveson
2. Stephen Harrison
3. Phil Cave
4. Michael Tait
5. Chris Swailes
6. Wayne Buchanan
7. Neal Hooks
8. Calvin Smith
9. Paul Brayson
10. John Alexander
11. Robbie Dale

Celtic won their opening game, at home to Redditch, and will hopefully be able to go one better by winning away from home as well. Blyth will certainly provide a sterner test than Redditch did, especially on their own patch. In our last match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Glen Rule
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Jack Rea
5. Laquan Esdaille
6. Kristian Platt
7. Jody Banim
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Connor Jennings

There is a full midweek fixture list this week. Other matches midweek...
Monday:
Hinckley United v Boston United
Hyde v Workington

Tuesday:
Eastwood Town v Worcester City
Gainsborough Trinity v Guiseley
Gloucester City v Corby Town
Harrogate Town v Droylsden
Nuneaton Town v Ilkeston Town
Redditch United v Alfreton Town
Stafford Rangers v Solihull Moors
Vauxhall Motors v AFC Telford United
Directions
Distance: 152
Time: 3 hours and 35 minutes

Head up the M62 towards Leeds, and take junction 29 (M1).
From the M1 join the A1(M) heading North.
Stay on the A1 for about 100 miles to just past the Washington Services, and stay in the right hand lane to join the A194(M).
Stay on the A194(M) to the end and go straight across the roundabout onto the A194.
Continue on the A194 to the junction with the A19, and take the northbound slip road onto the A19, through the Tyne Tunnel (costs ?1.
10).
From the Tyne tunnel, continue on the A19 (signposted Morpeth).
At the second roundabout, take the A189 (signposted Ashington).
At the third roundabout, join the A1061 (signposted for Blyth).
Stay on the A1061 across two roundabouts, to a third with the A193.
Turn left onto the A193 (signposted Industrial Estate).
At the next roundabout, turn right onto Plessy Road, and the ground will be on the left.