Match Preview :- Bishop’s Stortford - Saturday September 17th, 2011 (15:00:00)

On Saturday Celtic are back down the A1 again, this time to Bishop's Stortford. Bishop's Stortford are currently twentieth in the Blue Square Bet North, with six points, eighteen places and sixteen points below Celtic. We are aiming to produce a match centre for this game.

Bishop's Stortford were transferred from the South division as one of the twenty-two most northerly teams at the start of the season when Southport were saved from relegation. It is taking them a while to find their feet, with six losses in their opening eight games, including a 6-1 drubbing away at Corby. They lost on the opening day, 2-0, to Colwyn Bay. Although they lost their last home match 1-0 to Boston United, in their previous two home games they beat Solihull Moors 1-0 and beat Hinckley United by an impressive 5-0.

A hat-trick by Dwight Gayle in the Hinckley match put him just behind Bishop's Stortford's top scorer, Michale Bakare on four and five respectively. With Bishop's Stortford having scored ten goals this season, their other goal (also in the Hinckley match) was scored by Connor Essam. They have only conceded three goals at home, and only one since the opening day, suggesting that they are slowly finding their feet at home. Away from home is a different story, and they have conceded fifteen goals on their travels, including four in their last match, a 4-2 defeat away at Gainsborough Trinity.

This will be the first time that Celtic have played Bishop's Stortford, and we have never visited their Woodside Park ground before. Based solely on the current form of the two teams, the automated prediction league is suggesting a 3-1 win for Celtic. This would be a great result against an unknown quantity.

Bishop's Stortford do not appear to have any injury worries ahead of Saturday, however, fullback Phil Anderson will be starting a three match suspension for a sending off in their 1-0 defeat at home to Boston United. In their last match, the 4-2 away loss at Gainsborough Trinity, Bishop's Stortford lined up as:
1. Nicky Eyre
2. Ritchie Jones
3. Phil Anderson
4. Scott Shulton
5. Mo Habu
6. Connor Essam
7. Junior Dadson
8. Reece Prestedge
9. Dwight Gayle
10. Steffan Gaisie
11. Michael Bakare

Celtic are now unbeaten for fifteen games, with one loss in twenty-four, and this season have won seven of our opening eight fixtures, dropping points only away at Halifax. Last time we were down near Cambridge we kept a clean sheet when we beat Histon 1-0, whilst in our last match we beat Eastwood 2-1. Just two points off the top of the table, we have scored more goals than any other team and have, in Phil Marsh and Connor Jennings, two of the league's top three scorers. Celtic have no injury or suspension worries ahead of Saturday. In our last match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Kristian Platt
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Craig Hobson
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Lloyd Ellams
11. Connor Jennings

With Hyde facing a resurgent Gainsborough Trinity, a win for Celtic could see us finally overtake the Tigers, and regain top spot, whilst Guiseley are only three points behind us, and facing Worcester City, a team they are fancied to beat.

Other matches on Saturday:
Blyth Spartans (6pts 19th) v Boston United (11pts 12th)
Droylsden (14pts 5th) v Hinckley United (9pts 15th)
FC Halifax Town (10pts 14th) v Vauxhall Motors (7pts 17th)
Gloucester City (11pts 11th) v Colwyn Bay (13pts 6th)
Guiseley (19pts 3rd) v Worcester City (11pts 9th)
Histon (6pts 18th) v Harrogate Town (11pts 10th)
Hyde (24pts 1st) v Gainsborough Trinity (18pts 4th)
Nuneaton Town (11pts 8th) v Eastwood Town (8pts 16th)
Solihull Moors (3pts 22nd) v Altrincham (10pts 13th)
Workington (4pts 21st) v Corby Town (13pts 6th)

Directions
Distance: 183
Time: 3 hours and 35 minutes

Head away from Bower Fold towards Glossop.
At the traffic lights at the Glossop turning, continue straight to join the A628.
Stay on the A628 through Tintwistle to where it becomes the Woodhead Pass.
Stay on the A628 Woodhead Pass to the Flouch Roundabout (about 11 miles from Tintwistle).
Turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A616 (signposted for the M1).
After nine miles, there is a roundabout with the A61; continue straight across (exit 3 of 4) to stay on the A616 (signposted M1 Southbound).
After a mile join the M1 Southbound at junction 35a.
After 10 miles join the M18 at junction 32.
Stay on the M18 for 8 miles to junction 2 and join the A1(M) southbound.
Stay on the A1 for 92 miles to junction 14 (A14, M11) and join the A14 following signs for the M11.
After 17 miles join the M11 towards London.
Stay on the M11 for 28 miles to junction 8 (Stanstead, A120).
Turn right onto the A120 following signs for Bishop Stortford.
Immediately after going under the M11 there is a roundabout, turn left (exit 1 of 3) onto A1250.
Take the first right after a third of a mile (signed for the club) and the entrance to the club car-park is here.