Match Preview :- Hyde United - Monday December 26th, 2011 (15:00:00)

Celtic's double header with Hyde kicks off with the Boxing Day clash at Ewen Fields. Hyde currently top the table, and are eight points clear of second placed Celtic, having played two games more. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Hyde have had their best start to the season for many a year. Apart from a short spell in October, have occupied the top spot since taking it in August; they were knocked - however briefly - from first position by Celtic. Hyde's record this season is remarkably similar to Celtic's. Unbeaten at home, only two away losses all season, double figure unbeaten runs. Teasing the two apart is virtually impossible. Out of the last nine matches, Hyde have drawn two and won the other seven, after starting the season with a ten match winning streak. Celtic have drawn one more match than Hyde, which gives Boxing Day's hosts a marginal advantage. Over the last nine games, Celtic have lost twice, and drawn three. With the slightly better form, the automated prediction algorithm is suggesting a 2-1 win for Hyde on Boxing Day. Hyde have scored five more goals than Celtic (albeit with two more games) giving them the best attack in the league ahead of Celtic in second. Defensively, Hyde have the fourth best defence having conceded twenty four. Again Celtic are right behind them, having conceded twenty-four, putting them as the fifth best defence in the league.

Hyde have the league's second highest scorer in Scott Spencer. Right behind him in third and fourth is Phil Marsh and Connor Jennings. Hyde have failed to score twice, both away from home. Hinckley held them to a goalless draw in November, and Guiseley beat them 2-0 back in October. They have kept ten clean sheets, including a run of five games without conceding at the start of November. Since then, they have conceded nearly two goals a game, but have scored about three a game including finding the net four times in both of the their last two games against Eastwood and Vauxhall. They have scored four in five games this season. On average they score 2.4 goals per game (2.8 at home), whilst conceding a goal per game. The now departed Ryan Crowther was their second highest scorer with seven, well behind Scott Spencer's eighteen. This opens the way for Matt Berkley to grab second spot, as he currently has six.

The last time the two teams met was last season, in February, when Celtic won 2-0 at Ewen Fields, this was after Hyde had beaten Celtic 2-1 at Bower Fold, sharing the spoils that year. Hyde's last win at Ewen Fields was the season before in March 2010, when they won home and away 2-1 and 4-2 respectively, ending a run of five consecutive wins by Celtic, including knocking Hyde out of the FA Cup in 2007. Over the last twenty visits to Ewen Fields, Celtic have won thirteen times, drawn twice and lost six. There has never been a goalless draw between the two teams.

Form and stats largely go out of the window in a derby match such as this one, but it is almost guaranteed that a great game will ensue.

Hyde will be without a number of key players for the match, with Adam Griffin, David Birch and Chris Worsley all suspended. With the return of Scott Spencer from injury, Hyde look to be back up to full strength apart from the suspensions, and have bolstered with the loan signing of Reece Gray. In their last match, the 4-2 home win over Vauxhall Motors, Hyde lined up as:
1. David Carnell
2. Josh Brizzel
3. Adam Griffin
4. Danny Hall
5. Gianluca Havern
6. Andy Pearson
7. Tunji Moses
8. Callum Byrne
9. Danny Broadbent
10. Scott Spencer
11. Reece Gray

Celtic will be without captain Rhys Meynell who was sent off against Stockport County in the FA Trophy. The return of Kristian Platt from the injury table is therefore a welcome boost. Celtic drew their last away match against Solihull with a last gasp penalty from Phil Marsh. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Kristian Platt
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Steve Brogan
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Craig Hobson
10. Lloyd Ellams
11. Connor Jennings

Phil Marsh once played for Hyde. He was released by Toulson after being told he wasn't good enough. Hopefully, Marsh can show the Tigers what he can do. Celtic will need to be at their sparkling best to beat Hyde who are top for a reason, and will be top at the start of 2012 regardless of the results over the festive period. Although the season will not be won or lost on the Bank Holidays, the final table may be a little clearer at five o'clock on New Year's Day. With the best results, Celtic will be two points behind Hyde, with the worst, they will be fourteen points clear.

Other Boxing Day games:
Altrincham (29pts 9th) v Droylsden (28pts 10th)
Bishops Stortford (19pts 19th) v Histon (24pts 15th)
Boston United (28pts 11th) v Eastwood Town (13pts 21st)
Corby Town (32pts 8th) v Solihull Moors (24pts 16th)
Gainsborough Trinity (38pts 5th) v FC Halifax Town (36pts 6th)
Harrogate Town (25pts 14th) v Guiseley (41pts 3rd)
Hinckley United (18pts 20th) v Nuneaton Town (40pts 4th)
Vauxhall Motors (19pts 18th) v Colwyn Bay (28pts 12th)
Worcester City (35pts 7th) v Gloucester City (26pts 13th)
Workington (20pts 17th) v Blyth Spartans (12pts 22nd)

Directions
Distance: 5
Time: 10 minutes

Head down Mottram Road away from Bower Fold to the traffic lights at the t-junction with Acres Lane.
Turn left onto Acres Lane and follow it to the lights at the top of the hill near Morrisons.
Turn left onto Birch Lane, heading towards Hyde.
At the traffic lights with the Duke of Sussex pub on the left, go straight through.
At the next set of lights on Mottram Road, turn right.
Turn left onto Lumn Road at the next set of lights before reaching Morrisons, signposted for the leisure pool.
After approx.
200 yards you will come to a give-way sign, turn left onto Walker Lane, after approx.
50 yards you will see Hyde Leisure Pool on your left.
The entrance to Ewen Field is to the right hand side of the pool.