Match Preview :- Hinckley United - Saturday April 28th, 2012 (15:00:00)

On Saturday Celtic host Hinckley United for the final league game of the 2011/2012 season with both teams having a lot to play for. Hinckley are currently twentieth in the league on forty-eight points twenty points and fourteen places behind Celtic. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Hinckley know that a loss will see them relegated, whilst Celtic know that anything less than a win will see no chance of getting into the play-offs. Hinckley are one point behind Harrogate, Solihull and Workington, but only have a better goal difference than Harrogate. Harrogate are playing Corby at Corby. Corby are only two points ahead of Hinckley, as are Histon, Vauxhall Motors and Colwyn Bay.

Hinckley's home record has seen them fall to their current position, with only five wins at home all season. Their away form is one of the best in the league at the moment. Over the last ten games, it is only bettered by Bishop's Stortford, who beat Celtic a couple of weeks ago at Bower Fold. So this will be a tough ask. Fortunately, history is on Celtic's side. Hinckley have only managed one win at Bower Fold in the past ten years: January 2005 when they won 2-0. Since then, there have been five draws and two wins for Celtic at Bower Fold. Ironically, Celtic have had better results in Hinckley., winning four and losing once, with four draws. The last two meetings between the two sides have both been draws, the most recent one at Hinckley the quite remarkable 5-5 draw. Hinckley's last win over Celtic was in Hinckley last season, when they won 5-2. Celtic's last win over Hinckley was at Bower Fold and saw Celtic run out 7-1 winners – a repeat of that score-line would do wonders for Celtic's play-off push.

Hinckley's top scorer this season is Andre Grey, who has sixteen goals, with Danny Newton his closest rival on thirteen goals. Hinckley have found the net seventy-three times this season, thirty-seven on the road, failing to score in just four away games, which were their opening four away games. Since then, they have scored in every away game. Their last loss on the road was months ago at the end of January when Harrogate beat them 2-1. Their last game was a vital point away at Worcester, drawing 1-1. Their last wins have been against teams in the relegation mix, Histon, Vauxhall, Eastwood. However, they have managed draws against promotion chasing teams like Worcester and Altrincham, and got an impressive 5-2 win at Nuneaton on New Year's Day.

Hinckley are a second half team, with twenty-five of their seventy-three goals scored coming in the last twenty minutes. Just after half time is their most vulnerable point, with twenty-five of their conceded eighty-six goals coming in the first fifteen minutes after half time. On average they score 1.8 goals per game and concede 2.1 goals per game.

Hinckley's last match was at home, and Blyth went 3-0 up before half time, before Colin Farrell grabbed a late consolation for the Knitters the game finishing 3-1. Richard Lavery missed that match through an injury picked up against Worcester City, and will require a late fitness test. Top scorer Andre Grey is on loan at Luton. In that match, Hinckley lined up as:
1. Danny Haystead
2. Danny Newton
3. Calum Flanagan
4. Dan Bragoli
5. Paul Lister
6. Ben Richards-Everton
7. Lloyd Kerry
8. Sam Belcher
9. Omar Bogle
10. Clarke
11. Mark Dudley

Andy McWilliams was missing for Celtic's Cheshire Senior Cup final on Tuesday night through injury, whilst Craig Hobson had to be substituted through a flare up of his injury. Both players will be assessed ahead of Saturday. Celtic have no suspension worries, with Callum Warburton now having served his suspension. In Celtic's Cheshire Senior Cup match against Nantwich that finished 1-0 to Nantwich, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Callum Warburton
4. Kristian Platt
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Rhys Meynell
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Craig Hobson
10. Arthur Gnahoua
11. Stephen Brogan

The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting a close 3-2 win for Celtic in this match. If that's the case, then all eyes will be on the Altrincham v Gainsborough match going on down the road in Altrincham, as well as the games of Solihull v Halifax and Blyth Spartans v Nuneaton. Ironically, if Celtic were the only team to win in that group of four, we would finish third. Hinckley's supporters will be keeping a close eye on the Corby v Harrogate game.

Other games this weekend:
Altrincham (61pts 8th) v Gainsborough Trinity (71pts 4th)
Bishop's Stortford (55pts 10th) v Eastwood Town (20pts 22nd)
Blyth Spartans (34pts 21st) v Nuneaton Town (69pts 5th)
Boston United (53pts 11th) v Guiseley (84pts 2nd)
Colwyn Bay (50pts 16th) v Gloucester City (52pts 12th)
Corby Town (50pts 13th) v Harrogate (49pts 19th)
Droylsden (56pts 9th) v Vauxhall Motors (50pts 15th)
Histon (50pts 14th) v Hyde (89pts 1st)
Solihull Moors (49pts 18th) v FC Halifax Town (71pts 18th)
Worcester City (65pts 7th)v Workington (49pts 17th)

Match Sponsor
S. Williams & Sons
Ball Sponsor
Sterling Racing
Man of the Match Sponsor
Dee Hughes
Programme Sponsor
Zoe Hurlin/
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