On Friday, Celtic host Lower Breck in the FA Trophy. Lower Breck are currently top of the Northern Premier League Division One West, with nineteen points, six places and nine points above Celtic having played two more games. Kick-off 7:45pm.

Lower Breck are the only unbeaten team in the division so far, though they did lose their opening game in the FA Cup in the Extra Preliminary Round, beaten by Hallam at the start of August. Since then, they have remained unbeaten, getting into this round of the Trophy by beating Pontefract. In the league, they opened their season with a 1-00 win away at Mossley, and had three other away wins, beating Alfreton 5-2 (a current league record away win), Bootle 3-1 and, most recently, Clitheroe 3-2. The only points dropped so far this season was at home to Kidsgrove Athletic, where they drew 2-2. It’s fair to say they’ve adapted to life since promotion very well.

Alex Cherera is their current league top scorer, with seven goals (putting him second in the league table behind Ruben Jerome), with Lewis Buckley closest behind on four, and they have three players in the league’s top scorer’s chart. On average, they score three goals per game away from home, whilst conceding 1.25, keeping one clean sheet on the road, and scoring in every match. Lower Breck have the best away attack, with twelve goals so far this season. They have conceded the same number of goals on the road as Celtic, with five.

This is our first meeting with Lower Breck.

In Lower Breck’s last match, the 3-2 away win over Clitheroe, Lower Breck lined up as:
1. Theo Roberts
2. Michael Fitzgerald
3. Dan Lowey
4. Frazer Cookson
5. Jay Cooper
6. Jordan Barrow
7. Alex Cherera
8. Connor Millington
9. Lewis Buckley
10. Sam Burns
11. Harry McGee

In Celtic’s last match, the 6-4 away win over Trafford, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Mike Koral
3. Kyle Brownhill
4. Jordan Butterworth
5. Jack Byrne
6. Jack Tinning
7. Brandon Lewis
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Jack Irlam
11. Ellis Horan

Lower Breck have had a few extra days rest than Celtic, and this will be a tough match with the visitors flying at the moment, full of confidence. But Celtic are also flying and full of confidence, so it should be an excellent match and a real examination of how Celtic might perform in the league, going up against the top club.