Match Preview :- Stafford Rangers - Saturday February 26th, 2022 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, weather permitting (please check the website or Twitter for any postponements ahead of travel), Celtic head to Stafford for the non-league equivalent of the Old Firm derby. Stafford are currently ninth on forty-five points, seven points and three places above Celtic. Kick-off is 3pm.

Stafford have lost once in their last ten, back at the start of December when they lost at home to FC United. Since then, they have gone on a nine-game unbeaten run, with six draws and three wins. Away from home, they’ve lost twice (once to Hyde and once to us), compared to five losses at home, with eight wins away and three at home. Their away form is certainly more impressive than their home form this season. Their last match was a 3-1 win over Bamber Bridge, whilst their last three home matches have all been draws; the last two, against Whitby and Hyde, goalless. Their last home win was mid-September when they beat Matlock Town 2-0 with eight home matches without a win since.

Thomas Tonks has scored eight of their thirty-seven goals this season, putting him top of the golden boot list, with former-Celt, Jake Charles just behind on six. On average, they score 0.8 goals at home and 1.2 overall, failing to score in seven home matches (ten in total). They concede 0.9 goals per game, and have kept half of their ten clean sheets at home. Stafford have the worst home attack in the league, with twelve goals scored, though they also have one of the best home defences in the league, conceding twelve. Only Gainsborough have conceded fewer at home.

We met Stafford earlier in the season at Bower Fold, winning 2-1 in October, Luca Navarro’s stoppage time consolation no match for a brace from Marcus Dackers. We last visited Stafford just before the first lockdown, when we drew 1-1, Craig Hobson equalising after Alex Fojtíček’s own goal. Stafford’s last win when we visited, was back in 2018, when they won 2-0, whilst out last win in Stafford was in 2010, when we won 3-1, with Connor Jennings, Phil Marsh and Tim Ryan giving us the points. In the past thirty years, we have visited eleven times, winning three, losing five and drawing three times.

In Stafford’s last match, the 3-1 away win over Bamber Bridge, Stafford lined up as:
1. Luke Pilling
2. Andrew Burns
3. Joe Dunne
4. Alex-Ray Harvey
5. Ethan Stewart
6. James O’Neil
7. Tre Pemberton
8. Thomas Tonks
9. Kaiman Anderson
10. Alex Fletcher
11. Michael Tait

In Celtic’s last match, the 5-1 home loss to Nantwich, Celtic lined up as:
1. Liam Hughes
2. Matthew Liptrott
3. Stephen Brogan
4. Sam Wedgbury
5. Connor O’Grady
6. Shane Killock
7. Callum Harris
8. Keenan Quansah
9. Raul Correia
10. Scott Bakkor
11. Justin Johnson

A win for Celtic would not see us rise up the table, with Lancaster City five points ahead of us, though we have a game in hand on them. A loss, though, could see Radcliffe (at home to Ashton), Atherton (at home to Buxton), Basford (away at Hyde) and Mickleover (at home to Scarborough) overtake us, potentially dropping us four places.

Directions
Distance: 68
Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

From the M67 join the M60 towards Stockport.
After 7 miles, leave the M60 at Junction 4 (Chester, M6) to join the M56 Stay on the M56 for 7 miles, coming off at junction 7 (Northwich, M6) to join the A556.
The roundabout can be avoided by using the slip road.
Stay on the A556 for 5 miles to the roundabout with the M6.
Join the M6 southbound (Birmingham) avoiding the roundabout by using the slip road.
Stay on the M6 for 38 miles to junction 14 with the A34 (Stafford).
At the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road, turn left exit 1 of 5 onto the A34 (signposted Uttoxeter).
After 3/4 of a mile there is a roundabout - go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to join the A513 (Beaconside).
After 1/2 a mile, take the third right (immediate next right after the first left onto Marston Lane) onto Common Road.
The club is one mile down Common Road opposite the Audi garage.