Match Preview :- Hyde United - Friday December 26th, 2008 (15:00:00)
Over the festive period, we have the traditional double header against Hyde United. Boxing Day sees us travel over the hill to Hyde for a 3pm kick off, whilst New Year's Day sees the reverse fixture back at Bower Fold, also with a 3pm kick off. There will be live match centres for both games.

Hyde are currently hovering outside the relegation spots on goal difference only, having played a game more than Burscough, with both on sixteen points. Hyde are twelve places and fourteen points behind Celtic with only one win in ten games and now wins since October. They have won three games all season, two at home (Vauxhall Motors and Fleetwood Town) and one away (Hucknall Town). They have not won at home since they beat Vauxhall Motors back in September. They have picked up a lot of draws recently, with four draws in their last five games, most recently away at Burscough (2-2) and at home to Alfreton (1-1).

Hyde have kept two clean sheets at home, both 0-0 draws against Hinckley in September and Gainsborough in August. Away, they have kept just one clean sheet, their last win at relegation favourites Hucknall Town, who they beat 1-0. They have failed to score in three home games (Burscough being the other), and twice away: at Blyth when they lost 3-0 and at Tamworth when they lost 2-0. This means in the last ten games, they have scored seventeen goals, whilst conceding twenty five. Obviously they can score goals; it is their defence that has been leaking.

Hyde's top scorer is Chris Simm, who has thirteen goals and has top spot in the goal scorers' chart. New signing Danny Douglas-Pringle (from Woodley Sports) has made a quick impression scoring in both of his first two games against Alfreton and Burscough. On average, they score 1.8 goals per game at home and 1.3 away (1.5 overall). They concede 1.8 goals per game at home and 2.6 away (2.2 overall). Hyde's most dangerous period is around the half hour mark when they have scored eight of their thirty goals this season, whilst their most vulnerable period is just before half time when they have conceded ten of their forty-four goals this season. This ability to score and leak at the same time means that Hyde hold the record for the largest aggregate score so far this season when they were beaten 6-3 by Gateshead. They also hold the joint second highest aggregates, when they drew 4-4 with Workington and when they beat Fleetwood 5-3.

We've met Hyde many times over the years. Between January 2000 and December 2005 we met fourteen times, and Celtic won every one of them, with six league encounters, two cup matches, one friendly and five Ray Stanley games. In this period we beat them 6-0 in the league at our place (2003) and 5-1 at their place in the FA Trophy. In the subsequent five games that followed this period, from December 2006 to January 2007, Hyde took all four games, including three league games and one Ray Stanley. Most recently, we have met them three times, all last season. And again Celtic won them all, knocking them out of the FA cup in September with a 1-0 home win, and beating them home and away 3-1 in the league.

Given the relative positions of the two teams, the automated prediction algorithm has suggested a 4-2 win for Celtic at Ewen Fields, and a 4-3 win for Celtic at Bower Fold. This would be a great pair of results for Celtic that would keep us in touch with the play off zones, if not put us right back in them. However, Hyde will not rollover and there is pride at stake in these games also, as far as the supporters are concerned. Steve Burr will impress this upon the players, but it is up to the spectators to raise the roof in both games to reinforce it during the matches.

Hyde have been busy on the transfer scene since the departure of Steve Waywell in September. His replacement, Neil Tolson, has, in the last month, brought in defenders Neil Fitzhenry from Burscough and Farrell Kilbane from Fleetwood, and strikers Carl Lomax from Clitheroe, Danny Douglas-Pringle from Woodley Sports and Matt Berkley from Leigh Genesis. He has strengthened the midfield with Tom Manship from Cheltenham Town, local lad Joe Shelmerdine and former Celt Adam Oakes. Leaving Hyde are Phil Marsh, Nathan Wharton, Lee Cartwright, Steve Williams and Wayne Madden. Hyde don't have any suspension worries, with Chris Simm returning from suspension in time for the derby games, and they appear to have an injury free squad. In their last match, the 1-1 draw at home to Alfreton, Hyde lined up as:
1. Craig Dootson
2. Neil Fitzhenry
3. Adam Oakes
4. Chris Brass
5. Farrell Kilbane
6. Kevin Lynch
7. Danny Douglas-Pringle
8. Lee Rick
9. Carl Lomax
10. Karl Munroe
11. Nicky Clee

Celtic are slowly overcoming their injuries, with Keith Briggs playing nearly ninety minutes against Telford, though Paul Sykes is not yet ready to return. Also back in contention for a starting place is Richard Battersby, who has served his match ban for the dubious red card in the Gainsborough game. Tom Sharpe will not be available, as he has returned to Nottingham Forest with his loan period at an end. In Celtic's last match, the 1-0 away defeat at Telford, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Rhys Meynell
4. Tom Sharpe
5. Terry Barwick
6. Barrie Keeling
7. Steve Torpey
8. Keith Briggs
9. Andy Smart
10. Lee Ellington
11. Matty Barlow

The loss of Tom Sharpe means that there will be a shuffling of the defence, but whoever plays there they will have to be on their toes to keep Hyde at bay.

The two games against Hyde are going to be important in determining the finishing positions of both teams. Six points for Celtic would put them back into contention for a play-off spot, whilst points for Hyde would keep them out of the relegation zone.
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.