Match Preview :- AFC Fylde - Tuesday August 12th, 2014 (19:45:00)

On Tuesday night, AFC Fylde will be the visitors. AFC Fylde are currently top after one game thanks to beating Brackley Town 4-1 at home on Saturday. Fylde came up through the Play Offs last season, after beating Ashton United on penalties. There will be a live score centre for this game.

Fylde finished last season in third in the EvoStik Premier, on ninety-three points, finishing third behind FC United of Manchester, and just four points behind champions Chorley. They were five points clear of Worksop in fourth. They scored ninety-seven goals, and conceded just forty-one. Only Chorley had a better defensive record. On the road, Fylde had the best record in the EvoStik, losing just three times on the road all season, one of those being to Chorley. That loss was back on New Year's Day, when they lost 3-1. Since then, they have had six away wins, and three draws. Such was Fylde's record away from home that they beat our neighbours 10-0.

As well as winning the play-offs, Fylde also won the Dooson Sport Cup, beating Skelmersdale 1-0 in the final, and the Lancashire League Cup, beating Chorley 4-1 in the final. Coming through the play-offs, they beat Worksop 3-1, and drew with Ashton 1-1 at full time, the game going to penalties, which Fylde won 4-3.

Fylde have kept most of last year's squad, including their top three scorers, though defender Matty Hughes came to Celtic, whilst Danny Rowe, Michael Potts and Tom Hannigan have strengthened the Coasters. There doesn't appear to be any injuries for Fylde, and they are suspension free heading into the game on Tuesday night. In their last match, the 4-1 destruction of Brackley, AFC Fylde lined up as:
1. Ben Hinchlffe
2. Luke Denson
3. Adam Sumner
4. Josh Langley
5. Tom Hannigan
6. Bradley Barnes
7. Joe Booth
8. Michael Potts
9. Danny Rowe
10. Michael Barnes
11. Richie Allen

Celtic had a couple of knocks to players, but the squad should be fully fit and suspension free going into the match. In Celtic's last match, the 2-2 draw away at Worcester, Celtic lined up as:
1. Lewis King
2. Olly Crowley
3. Jack Truelove
4. Matty Hughes
5. Matt Regan
6. Sam Staunton-Turner
7. Aidan Chippendale
8. Matty Mainwaring
9. Ben McKenna
10. Paul Ennis
11. Liam Dickinson

Celtic could do with kicking off their home campaign with a win on Tuesday, but full of confidence, Fylde will prove difficult opposition, and the defence will have to be hyper alert to keep the free scoring Coasters at bay, as Brackley have already found out. A win would see us leapfrog Fylde, but this early in the season, table positions swap and swing wildly, anyway.

Match Sponsor
Royton Cricket Club
Ball Sponsor
V O`Brien/Karen & Bernard Halford
Man of the Match Sponsor
T K Components
Programme Sponsor
Rupert Wood & Son