Match Preview :- Workington - Saturday February 18th, 2012 (15:00:00)

On Saturday Celtic will face Workington in the Conference North. Workington are currently sixteenth in the table with thirty-two points seventeen points and twelve places behind fourth placed Celtic, having played two games more. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Workington had a slow start to the season, winning one in their opening ten and three in their opening fifteen. The first win was at home to Droylsden. They have turned their season around, however, and in the last eight games have only lost once with four wins along the way. Admittedly, the wins were against relegation candidates Eastwood and Blyth with two wins apiece over both teams. Their last loss was to Altrincham.

We have already met Workington this season when we went to Cumbria and came away with a magnificent 5-2 win, coming back from 2-0 down after looking the more likely to score, and then running riot with goals from Adam Kay and braces from Connor Jennings and Phil Marsh. Workington's last visit to Bower Fold last season saw Celtic win 2-1 (after beating them 5-0 earlier in the season), whilst Workington's last win at Bower Fold was back at the start of 2009 when they won 4-1. Workington are something of a bogey team for Celtic in the FA Cup, having knocked us out of the competition three times at Bower Fold.

Workington's top scorer is Gareth Arnison, whose seven goals leave him well outside the top ten of the league's Golden Boot. He is challenged for the Workington's Golden Boot by Jonny Wright, Dave McNiven and Phil McLuckie who have five goals each. Their most dangerous period is midway through the second half, when they have scored ten of their thirty-six goals this season, whilst the last few minutes is their most vulnerable, where they have conceded twelve of their forty-two goals this season. On average, Workington score 1.3 goals per game (a goal per game away from home), and concede 1.5 goals per game (1.4 away from home). Workington have kept six clean sheets, three of which were away, and have not conceded a goal for two games now. Their three clean sheets on the road have come against Blyth, Eastwood and Vauxhall. Workington have failed to score on six occasions, four of which were away. They have scored at least once in their last five away games, with their last blank a 2-0 away loss to Histon.

Workington were one of the lucky teams to get a match on last Saturday, and beat Eastwood 3-0 at home. They are suspension free. In that match, Workington lined up as:
1. Aaran Taylor
2. Lee Andrews
3. Anthony Wright
4. Kyle May
5. Dan Wordsworth
6. David Hewson
7. Stuart Green
8. Adam Main
9. Jonny Wright
10. Gareth Arnison
11. Phil McLuckie

Celtic will be without the suspended Andy McWilliams, who is suspended until 25th of February. Hopefully, the weather enforced three week rest will have cleared up any knocks and niggles, and the team are raring to go. In our last match, way back at the end of January, the 4-0 home loss to Colwyn Bay, Celtic lined up as:
1. Craig MacGillivray
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Stephen Brogan
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Craig Hobson
10. Arthur Gnahoua
11. Nick Rogan

Celtic need the points having fallen from second over our three week break. The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting a 1-1 draw, but this is a great chance for Celtic to get a much needed confidence boosting win under their belt. You would expect both Guiseley and Halifax to win their games (away at Hinckley and Eastwood respectively). Nuneaton have a tricky away tie at Colwyn Bay, whilst Gainsborough should pick up three points at home to Harrogate. If Celtic don't win, we could drop out of the top five and be replaced by Nuneaton.

There is a full fixture list this weekend (without Hyde playing), with Celtic fourth on forty-nine points, the other games on Saturday are:
Altrincham (42pts 8th) v Blyth Spartans (15pts 21st)
Colwyn Bay (44pts 7th) v Nuneaton Town (47pts 6th)
Corby Town (39pts 10th) v Histon (33pts 15th)
Droylsden (35pts 13th) v Bishop's Stortford (29pts 18th)
Eastwood Town (15pts 22nd) v FC Halifax Town (52pts 2nd)
Gainsborough Trinity (48pts 5th) v Harrogate Town (32pts 17th)
Gloucester City (36pts 12th) v Vauxhall Motors (27pts 20th)
Hinckley United (29pts 19th) v Guiseley (49pts 3rd)
Solihull Moors (33pts 14th) v Worcester City (40pts 9th)

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