Celtic face another stern test on Saturday when we travel across to the East coast to face Boston United in the Conference North clash (kick off 3pm). Boston are currently second in the table, just one point behind leaders Alfreton having played a game more. They are nine places and fourteen points ahead of Celtic on twenty-six points, again having played a game more. There will be a coach to this match, however it is not planned that there will be a live match centre, if this changes a post will be made on the forum.
Boston have only lost once this season, at home to Nuneaton Town. Apart from this, they have dropped points on the road at Vauxhall and Corby, both games ending 0-0. They have had some great results this season, beating Workington 4-0 in Boston, whilst tonking Redditch 9-0 in Redditch (highest away win this season) and beating Harrogate 6-3 at Harrogate (highest scoring game this season). With just five goals conceded this season, they have the second best defence in the league, with the longest run without conceding seeing them take in six games (and counting) on the trot without a single goal against; plus their high scoring games mean that they also have the best attack in the league having scored twenty-seven goals.
Boston?s top scorers this season are Anthony Church, Shaun Pearson and Spencer Weir-Daley, all of whom have five goals each. They score consistently throughout the game, and don?t really concede. On average they score 2.4 goals per game (1.7 at home), and concede 0.4 goals per game (0.5 at home).
We have met Boston six times in the past twenty years, and have never won at York Street. The best we have managed is a 1-1 draw back in 1992 in the Conference National, after beating them 2-1 at Bower Fold earlier in the season. Since then, the home team has come out the winner, with our last visit to York Street seeing us lose 3-1.
They were knocked out of the FA Cup by Worcester City a few weeks ago, meaning they had a rearranged match at Hyde on Saturday, which they won 3-0. They are at full strength in terms of injuries, and have no suspensions. In that 3-0 victory away at Hyde, Boston lined up as:
1. James McKeown
2. Lee Canoville
3. Shaun Pearson
4. Kieran Murphy
5. Gareth Jelleyman
6. Marc Newsham
7. Anthony Church
8. Danny Sleath
9. Ryan Semple
10. Jason Lee
11. Spencer Weir-Daley
Celtic?s last match saw them progress to the final qualifying round of the FA Cup with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Warrington Town. Lee Elam had to sit that game out, as did Tim Ryan. In that win, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Glen Rule
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Joel Bembo-Leta
5. Alan White
6. Jack Rea
7. Conner Jennings
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Callum Warburton
The Automated Prediction Algorithm is suggesting that Boston will just shade this match, winning 3-2.
Other matches this weekend:
Alfreton Town (27 pts 1st) v AFC Telford (22pts 3rd)
Corby Town (15pts 9th) v Gainsborough Trinity (7pts 19th)
Droylsden (16pts 7th) v Redditch United (7pts 20th)
Eastwood Town (9pts 14th) v Blyth Spartans (10pts 13th)
Gloucester City (10pts 12th) v Harrogate Town (9pts 15th)
Hyde (6pts 21st) v Worcester City (12pts 10th)
Nuneaton Town (17pts 6th) v Stafford Rangers (8pts 17th)
Solihull Moors (15pts 8th) v Guiseley (21pts 5th)
Vauxhall Motors (7pts 18th) v Hinckley United (8pts 16th)