Match Preview :- Blyth Spartans - Tuesday September 20th, 2011 (19:45:00)

On Tuesday night, Stalybridge Celtic will host Blyth Spartans in the Blue Square Bet North clash (kick of 7:45pm). Blyth are currently eighteenth with nine points, sixteen places and fourteen points behind Celtic. There will be a live match centre for this game.

It's not been the best start for Blyth this season, with no wins on the road. Indeed, their last win away from Blyth was back in Match last season when they beat Vauxhall Motors. Since then they have scored just three goals on their travels, one in a 5-1 loss at Hinckley last season, and only two this season, both in a 2-2 draw on the opening day at Histon. Since that draw, Blyth have had a 5-0 defeat at Guiseley, a 2-0 defeat at Gainsborough and a 0-0 draw at Eastwood. At home, it's been a different story, with two wins, most recently a 1-0 win over Boston United, and a 3-1 win over Bishop's Stortford. They were beaten at home 3-1 by Droylsden, and 3-2 by Halifax, with their other game this season a 3-3 draw with Harrogate Town.

Celtic and Blyth have met a lot of times. Our most recent encounter was a bus parked job by Blyth resulting in a 0-0 draw at Bower Fold in April of last season, after Celtic had beaten Blyth 2-1 in Celtic's first away game in August last season. Blyth's only league win (they knocked us out of the Setanta Shield in October 2007 on penalties) in the last twenty years at Bower Fold was the season before in February 2010, a game they won 1-0, after beating us 2-1 at Croft Park. In twelve visits (excluding the Settanta Shield), Blyth have lost eight and drawn one at Bower Fold.

Their top scorer this season is David Coulson, who has three goals. In second place is Phil Cave, who has scored two penalties in Blyth's last two matches, grabbing a consolation against Droylsden and the winner against Boston, both penalties coming just after the hour mark. It is the 60-70 minute mark where Blyth are the most dangerous, scoring a third of their goals in this period (four of twelve). Just after the break is their most vulnerable, with five of their nineteen conceded goals coming here.

Blyth will be without the services of influential midfielder Shaun Vipond who suffered a broken leg when they lost to Droylsden. Also missing, will be regular keeper, Matt Hunter. He is replaced in goal by loan signing David Knight, who was third choice keeper at Histon (given Histon's second choice keeper was a hundred times better than their first choice, Knight must be outstanding!). Replacing Vipond is Swiss six foot one inch midfielder, Sebastien Anzevui (pronounced An-see-voo, for any match day announcers out there). The strike force has also been bolstered by former Spartan John Alexander. Anzevui's international clearance (he has been playing in America) is expected to have come through in time for the match.

In their last match, the 1-0 home win over Boston, Blyth lined up as:
1. David Knight
2. Dylan Purvis
3. Phil Cave
4. Carl Jones
5. Dan Groves
6. Wayne Buchanan
7. Lee Mason
8. Neal Hooks
9. Graeme Armstrong
10. John Alexander
11. Chris Emms

Celtic are riding high, and are unbeaten this season, with a good solid home record to back them up. Eight wins from nine, and unbeaten since the 26th March last season, the only team to take points off us in the last ten home games was Blyth Spartans...

Jim Harvey should have a fit and suspension free squad to pick from on Tuesday night. In our last match, the 3-0 win away at Bishop's Stortford, 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

Other matches this week:
Worcester City (11pts 12th) v Solihull Moors (6pts 20th) - Monday
Boston United (11pts 1th) v Hinckley United (12pts 9th)
Colwyn Bay (16pts 5th) v Altrincham (10pts 14th)
Eastwood Town (8pts 9th) v Bishop's Stortford (6pts 21st)
Gainsborough Trinity (18pts 4th) v Workington (5pts 22nd)
Gloucester City (11pts 10th) v Corby Town (14pts 6th)
Guiseley (22pts 3rd) v FC Halifax Town (10pts 16th)
Nuneaton Town (14pts 7th) v Histon (9pts 17th)
Vauxhall Motors (10pts 15th) v Harrogate Town (11pts 13th)

Teams can have a better idea how their season will pan out after ten games, so it is important that Celtic hit the tenth game with another three points to maintain the two point gap on Hyde. The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting we have a good chance, predicting a 3-2 win for Celtic.

Match Sponsor
Firbank
Ball Sponsor
Ball sponsor
required
0161 338 2828
Man of the Match Sponsor
Man of the Match sponsor
required
0161 338 2828
Programme Sponsor
Programme sponsor
required
0161 338 2828