Match Preview :- Chorley - Monday March 28th, 2016 (15:00:00)

On Easter Monday, Celtic travel to Chorley (kick off 3pm). Chorley are currently eighth in the league, eleven point and eight places above Celtic though they have played three more games. Any hopes Chorley had of automatic promotion this season vanished in their last match when they lost 2-0 away at FC United, they can no longer reach Solihull's current points tally.

After an initial three games without a win, Chorley had a great start to the season, losing twice in thirteen games to propel them up the table. They maintained that form to reach their current eighth spot, a position they've held for several weeks. However, the chasing pack has caught them up over the last five games that have seen them loose three and win two. Those two wins were their home games, and the last time they lost at home was to Hednesford, back in February.

The golden boot at Chorley is going to be a tight race between Darren Stephenson (currently on thirteen) and Josh Hine (currently on twelve). They are both streets ahead of the next highest scorer, Jordan Connerton on five. At home, they score an average of 1.7 goals per game (1.5 overall) and concede 1.1 goals per game (1.4 overall). Thirty-one of their fifty-five goals have been scored at home this season, whilst only nineteen of their conceded fifty. Eight of their nine clean sheets have come at home, whilst they have only failed to score twice on their home patch, Lowestoft and North Ferriby keeping them at bay.

We've not beaten Chorley in the league since October 1991, when we beat them 3-2 in Chorley. Since Chorley's promotion, we've met five times, twice in the FA Trophy after we held them to a 2-2 draw at Victory Park, only to lose at home. Our last two meetings have resulted in 1-0 defeats, both at Bower Fold, including the meeting in August. Our last visit in the league saw us lose 2-0. Since Chorley have been promoted we are yet to score a league goal against them, home or away.

Chorley's last match was away at Lowestoft, a game that they lost 2-0. There's no published team sheet for that game, however in their previous match, the 2-0 away loss at FC United of Manchester, Chorley lined up as:
1. Sam Ashton
2. Mark Ross
3. Will Beesley
4. Keiran Charnock
5. Keil O'Brien
6. Adam Roscoe
7. Paul Jarvis
8. Dale Whitham
9. Jordan Connerton
10. Darren Stephenson
11. Jake Cottrell

Celtic's last match was the wind and rain assisted 0-0 at home to Gainsborough. In that match, we lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Peter Wylie
3. Danny Wisdom
4. John Shaw
5. Jack Higgis
6. Alec Mudimu
7. Charlie Joyce
8. Dale Wright
9. Chris Simm
10. Adam Farrell
11. Ben McKenna

A win for Celtic could see us catch two teams, and go level on points with Gainsborough (a good enough in for us, and a bad loss for them, we could overtake them, the difference in goal difference is only five). A loss on the other hand could allow the three teams between Celtic and the drop zone to all over take us, as they are all within three points.

There is a full match program (weather permitting) on today:
Brackley Town (38pts 19th) v AFC Telford (42pts 15th)
Bradford Park Avenue (40pts 17th) v Harrogate Town (61pts 4th)
Curzon Ashton (49pts 10th) v FC United of Manchester (45pts 12th)
Gainsborough Trinity (44pts 13th) v Alfreton Town (47pts 11th)
Gloucester City (43pts 14th) v Nuneaton Town (59pts 5th)
Hednesford Town (31pts 21st) v Worcester City (40pts 18th)
Lowestoft Town (36pts 20th) v North Ferriby United (66pts 2nd)
Solihull Moors (75pts 1st) v Corby Town (31pts 22nd)
Stockport County (51pts 9th) v AFC Fylde (63pts 3rd)
Tamworth (56pts 6th) v Boston United (55pts 7th)

Directions
Distance: 32
Time: 45 minutes

Take the M60 to junction 16 (M61) and join the M61 northbound following signs for Preston.
Stay on the M61 for 9 miles to junction 6 (A6027, Chorley).
At the roundabout, turn right (exit 2 of 3) onto the A6 (Chorley Road) towards Chorley.
After six and a half miles, turn left at the roundabout (1 of 4) onto Duke Street.
Take the second left onto Ashby Street and the entrance to the car park is the second right.