Match Preview :- Workington - Saturday August 31st, 2013 (15:00:00)

On Saturday 31st of August, Celtic travel north up the M6 to take on Workington for the Conference North clash (kick off 3pm). With just one draw so far this season, Workington sit in nineteenth place with one point, nine places and six points behind Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Workington finished tenth last season, with fifty-six points, three places and four points above Celtic. In their last ten away games of last season, they won three of them. Their top scorer last season was Gareth Arnison, who has signed for Barrow. The second highest scorer, Jonny Wright is still with the club and scored thirteen last season, though he has yet to get off the ground this season and will be apparently making his last appearance in a Workington shirt against Celtic. Workington beat Celtic twice last season, both home and away they beat us 4-1. The season before, the away teams were in charge, with Celtic winning 5-2 in Workington and Workington winning 3-1 at Bower Fold. In the last ten years, Celtic have won in four of their ten meetings in Borough Park, and there has never been a draw between the two teams there.

This season, Workington have had a 1-1 home draw with Stockport, and three losses: 0-1 at home to Vauxhall, 1-0 away at Guiseley, and 2-1 away at Telford on the opening day of the season. They have scored twice, with Kyle May marking his four hundredth appearance for the Reds in their last game against Guiseley and marking it with a goal against Stockport two games earlier. The have not scored in their last two matches. Celtic for their part have a hundred percent away record this season, admittedly only over two games. Perhaps this can be the third?

Celtic do not have any suspension worries, but will be checking the fitness of players like Tom Buckley, who missed out in Celtic's 2-2 draw with Bradford Park Avenue on Bank Holiday Monday, and Conal Platt who pulled up in the first half of that match. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Matty Urwin
2. Kelvin Bleau
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Kristian Platt
5. Mark Lees
6. Prince Haywood
7. Adam Pepper
8. Callum Warburton
9. Joel Bembo-Leta
10. Sean McConville
11. Conal Platt

Workington's last match, the 1-0 away defeat at Guiseley, Workington lined up as:
1. Jonathon Mitchell
2. Dominic Kennedy
3. Gavin Skelton
4. Kyle May
5. Dan Wordsworth
6. Stephen Hindmarch
7. Scott Allison
8. David Lunch
9. Jonny Wright
10. Joe Jackson
11. Ross Wilson

A win for Celtic could see us propelled into the top five, whislt a win for Workington could see Celtic drop down into the bottom third.

Altrincham remain the only team with a hundred percent record ahead of this weekend's fixtures, with Hednesford, Brackley and Telford all still unbeaten. Worcester, Bradford, Workington, Oxford and Stockport are all still looking for their first win, whilst Gainsborough are still looking for their first points. This weekend's fixtures are:
Altrincham (12pts 1st) v Histon (7pts 9th)
Boston United (7pts 7th) v Worcester City (2pts 17th)
Brackley Town (10pts 3rd) v North Ferriby United (9pts 4th)
Bradford Park Avenue (2pts 18th) v Oxford City (1pt 20th)
Colwyn Bay (4pts 15th) v Leamington FC (3pts 16th)
Gainsborough Trinity (0pts 22nd) v AFC Telford (8pts 5th)
Gloucester City (6pts 13th) v Guiseley (7pts 11th)
Harrogate Town (7pts 6th) v Stockport County (1pt 21st)
Hednesford Town (10pts 2nd) v Barrow (4pts 14th)
Solihull Moors (6pts 12th) v Vauxhall Motors (7pts 8th)

Directions
Distance: 157
Time: 3 hours and 15 minutes

From the M60, take M61 (junction 15) to Preston.
Follow the M61 right to the end and join the M6 towards South Lakes.
After about 65 miles on the M6 take Junction 40 onto the A66 (Penrith, North Lakes).
On the roundabout at the end of the slip-road, turn left (exit 1 of 4) onto the A66.
Stay on the A66 for 37 miles (going straight across 4 roundabouts) to a t-junction with the A596 (Bridge Street).
At the roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A596 (Bridge Street).
After a mile, at the roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto A597 (Hill Crest), cross the bridge and the ground is on the left.