Match Preview :- Droylsden - Saturday August 28th, 2004 (15:00:00)
On Saturday, at 3pm, we journey down Manchester Road to our friendly neighbourhood rivals, Droylsden. The Butcher's Arms team have not had the start Dave Pace wanted, and reside just a couple of places above us in the table, with just one more point.

Bradford and Moor Green have both drawn at Droylsden and the only team Droylsden have beaten so far this season is Vauxhall Motors. Looking for positives, they have scored 7 goals in 4 matches, including a 3-3 draw with Bradford. On the plus side for Celtic, they have conceded 8 goals in four games, with three of those goals coming just before the hour mark.

Their top scorer is Steve Brodie who has two goals, both scored around the hour mark.

Celtic have scored in every match so far, with Paul Sykes our top league scorer, again with 2. We have scored 5 goals, and conceded 5, and given Droylsden's home record or draws, and our home and away record of draws, the prediction algorithm is predicting 1-1.

I cannot find examples of previous Droylsden teams, or suspension/injury details, so I can only pick random players for their team (Droylsden have 4 Carls playing for them, which must be a record!).

1. Jon Worsnop
2. Carl Regan
3. Danny Warner
4. Gary Burke
5. Carl Robinson
6. Ged Murphy
7. Steve Brodie
8. Peter Dogun
9. Cieran Kilheeny
10. David Cameron
11. Danny Byrne

user posted image
Former Celtic player - Ged Murphy

Celtic's team is recovering from injury, alebit slowly. Caldecott and Denham are both still on the treatment table, and they've been joined by Pearce who suffered a set-back in training, whilst Bowker and Calcutt are now all available for selection, though Bowker is likely to be on the bench. Dootson's injury against Runcorn on Tuesday wasn't serious, he jarred his wrist and is cleared as injury free.

At the time of writing, Gary Williams has not yet received his international clearance, and will probably have to sit this one out (given that it is a Bank Holiday, it's likely he will not be available until Barrow come to visit a week on Saturday).

The possible Celtic line-up is:
1. Craig Dootson
2. Dave German
3. Tony Whealing
4. Ben Smith
5. Barrie Keeling
6. Nathan Wharton
7. Paul Sykes
8. Kev Parr
9. Andy Hayward
10. Phil Eastwood
11. Dean Calcutt

With the local rivalry here, this is a game Celtic can win - especially if they recall what Dave Pace said last season about us in the local press!
Directions
Distance: 5
Time: 15 minutes

Drive down Stamford street until it becomes Manchester New road, past B&Q.
The road forks by Audenshaw library, take the right hand fork, followed by an immediate left.
This is Droylsden road.
Stay on this road to some traffic lights with Droylsden precinct on your right.
Turn right here.
Just across the traffic lights, you will see the Butchers Arms pub.
The club is behind it.