On Saturday, another big game rolls around as Avro are the visitors. Avro are currently second in the table, four points and four places ahead of Celtic, having played two games less. Kick-off 3pm.

Avro have three games in hand on top spot Bury, and are seven points behind, meaning they could overtake Bury with by winning their extra games and matching Bury’s results. Add to this they have won three on the trot and are unbeaten in five and this is a tough game. January though, was a bad month for Avro, in which they didn’t win a single game, getting three draws and two losses. Their last loss was a home defeat to Lower Breck in mid-January, whilst their last away loss was the game before when Darlaston Town beat them 1-0. That came after an eight-game winning streak, the longest winning streak in the league so far this season. Avro’s last five away matches saw them win their most recent at Clitheroe, draw with Runcorn and Bury, lose to Darlaston and beat Trafford 2-0.

Kyle Hawley is their danger man this season, with sixteen goals so far, putting him second in the overall league goalscorers, one ahead of Ruben Jerome. His nearest rival is Harry Salt on six. Of their twenty-four away goals this season, Hawley has scored nearly half of them. On average, they score 1.7 goals per away game (1.8 overall), whilst conceding 0.9 goals per game. With thirteen goals conceded on the road so far this season, Avro have the best away defensive record in the league, by a considerable margin. Six of their thirteen clean sheets came on the road, and they have only failed to score once away from home, their 1-0 loss to Darlaston.

We’ve met six times, the first back in 2023, which Avro won 3-2 at their place (Aaron Dwyer and Max Harrop with Celtic’s goals), followed up with a penalty win in the FA Trophy after the game finished goalless. The game at Bower Fold finished 2-2 that season (Aaron Dwyer and Darius Osei equalising twice). Last season, Celtic won 1-0 at Bower Fold, after ana early goal from Jack Irlam, and the game in Avro finished 2-2, Max Leonard’s brace cancelled out, though Avro scored deep into stoppage time. Earlier this season, Avro scored again deep into stoppage time in a windy game, Hawley on the score sheet.

In Avro’s last match, the 3-1 home win over Atherton Collieries, Avro lined up as:
1. Cameron Mason
2. Ben Rydel
3. Javid Swaby-Neavin
4. Luke Nock
5. Sam Olawumi
6. Kai Cherry
7. Sam Sheridan
8. Rodney Ajayi
9. Kielan Adams
10. Sonny Reeves
11. Luke Partington

In Celtic’s last match, the 4-0 away win over Wythenshawe, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Charlie Doyle
5. Jack Byrne
6. Jack Tinning
7. Andy Scarisbrick
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Benni Smales-Braithwaite
11. Ellis Horan

Celtic are one point behind Vauxhall (at home to Bury) and three points behind Runcorn (at home to Stafford), so if results go our way we could return to the top five. Runcorn have a five better goal difference, so a goal swing in our favour could move us as high as fourth. Lower Breck (away at Khalsa) are four points ahead, and Avro are four points ahead, so we could move within a point of second. The only team within three points of us is Bootle, but we have eight goals on them, so if results don’t go our way, they could match our points.