On Saturday, Stalybridge Celtic travel to Oldham to face Avro. Avro are currently eleventh on thirty-six points, six points and four places below seventh placed Celtic with two games in hand. Kick off is 3pm.

If Avro won their games in hand they’d be level on points with Celtic. Their last home win was mid-December to Bootle, who they beat 1-0. Their last two home games saw them lose 1-0 to Wythenshawe and draw 1-1 with Trafford. Overall at home, Avro have a solid record, losing three times, to both Wythenshawes and Liverpool. They have six wins and four draws. They’ve had two excellent periods, which saw Avro climb the league, but separated by six games without a win, seeing them drop. Their highest position so far was fourth, whilst their lowest was nineteenth.

Liam Ellis has netted eight league goals this season so far, making him Avro’s dangerman. Defensively, Avro have the third best defence in the league, conceding twelve, with only Mossley and Widnes conceding fewer at home, and overall have the second-best defence in the league, conceding twenty-seven, with only Widnes conceding fewer. Fortunately, Celtic have the fourth best attack in the league. With thirty goals scored, Avro have the third worst attack overall, with Atherton and Hanley scoring fewer, fortunately for Avro, Celtic have the second worst defence in the league. On average they score 1.4 goals per game at home and 1.2 overall, whilst conceding 0.9 goals per home game and 1.1 overall. Five of their seven clean sheets came at home, whilst three of their eight failures to score came at home.

Last season, Celtic met Avro three times, twice in the league and once in the trophy. The Trophy game finished goalless, but Avro went through on penalties. In the league, they won our last visit there 3-2, despite losing their goalkeeper, and drew 2-2 at Bower Fold. This season, we’ve already played Avro at Bower Fold, winning 1-0 thanks to a very early Jack Irlam goal.

In Avro’s last match, the 0-0 home draw with Trafford, Avro lined up as:
1. Grant Shenton
2. Dominic Smalley
3. David Fitzpatrick
4. Jack Morrow
5. James Dwyer
6. Sam Rathbone
7. Jake Cottrell
8. Sam Davidson
9. Liam Ellis
10. Cheikh Thiam
11. AJ Warburton

In Celtic’s last match the Cheshire Senior Cup game against Tranmere which Celtic won 6-0, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Jordan Butteworth
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Brandon Newell
5. Greg Wilkinson
6. Jack Tinning
7. Navid Nasseri
8. Liam Tongue
9. Lewis Rawsthorn
10. Max Leonard
11. Benni Smales-Braithwaite

Celtic could re-enter the top five with a win.