Celtic?s first away game of the campaign is against Lancaster City, just up the M6 and Phil Wilson?s team. Tuesday with a 7:45 kick off, both teams will be hoping to register a win after both drawing 3-3 at the weekend, Celtic with Northwich and Lancaster away at Hinckley.
Lancaster started last season well, unbeaten in their first four home games; they won three and drew one. They were one of the few teams last season not to beat us, despite getting three attempts at it. We drew the same game last season, 2-2 (also our first away game, also on a Tuesday night!), and beat them in the return fixture and in the GLS Cup. The second half of last season saw Lancaster only win four games between January and March, leaving them in dire danger of being dragged into the relegation battle. Ryan Zico Black, almost single handed, turned things around, finding the net eight times in April, and giving Lancaster a healthy eleven points.
No surprise then that Black was their lead goal-scorer last season, with eighteen. Peter Thompson pushed him all the way with fourteen, but Thompson has departed, whilst Black remains. Last season, Neil Prince scored only one goal for the Dollies, a figure he has surpassed in just one game for Celtic. Lancaster were something of a second-half team last season, scoring two-thirds of their goals in this period. They conceded most heavily at the start of either half. On average, they scored 1.1 goals per game at home, and conceded 1.
There have been some much publicised departures from the Giant Axe over the close season, with not very much going the other way. Reported money troubles off the pitch may well have an impact on it as ex-Celtic boss struggles with a wafer-thin squad. This has been further hampered by the injury to Black in their opening game at Hinckley, who will be struggling to be fit in time for Tuesday.
Celtic will have their own injury worries ahead of Tuesday with Haran taking a nasty blow to the knee in the match against Northwich.
No doubt Neil Prince will be eager to mark his swift return to the Giant Axe with a couple more goals to add to his growing collection. He will be up against another ex-Celtic player in the form of Andy Scott. Indeed, despite the clear out, there will still be a few familiar faces at the Giant Axe in Tony Sullivan, Steve Jones and Gary Bauress.
Lancaster?s last game out saw a 3-3 thriller, with Hinckley scoring in stoppage time, almost mirroring Celtic?s game versus Northwich. On the score sheet for them were Nick Rogan, Alex Taylor and Ian Dawes, all of whom are likely to start.
1. Anthony McMillian
2. Neil Uberschar
3. Andy Scott
4. Joe McMahon
5. Iain Swan
6. Ryan Elderton
7. Mike Eckersley
8. Ian Dawes
9. Steve Jones
10. Nick Rogan
11. Ryan Black
Stalybridge Celtic?s last outing saw ten first team debuts, but the team have settled together nicely. A change in the line up is likely to see Paul Pettinger in the starting eleven, he didn?t play the first game because he was suspended.
1. Nick Buxton
2. Darren Hockenhull
3. Mark Barnard
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Mark Haran
6. Chris Price
7. James Turley
8. Tom Field
9. Lee Ellington
10. Lee Mulvaney
11. Neil Prince
Celtic need to be looking to get their first win of the season away at troubled Lancaster, and given the performance on Saturday, there?s no reason why they couldn?t do it.