Match Preview :- Accrington Stanley - Tuesday April 5th, 2005 (19:45:00)
Tuesday night sees Celtic take on high-flying Accrington Stanley in the inaugural Northern Final of the GLS cup. Accrington are down to seventh in the Conference after the defeat away at Crawley, level on points with Morecambe and Stevenage, just two points outside the play off spots having played more games than those around them.

Accrington are renowned for always fielding a full strength side in whatever competition they play in, but Saturday's sudden drop out of the play-off spots might just make them stop and reconsider. Especially considering that Saturday sees them take on Stevenage, who are also in a position to get into the play off spots. Accrington have been hovering in or around the play-off spots all season, with second being their highest spot, and twelfth their lowest. They last won away at Canvey Island on the 22nd of March, but their last three games have not seen them register a win, beaten by Crawley Town, and drawing to Burton Albion and York City.

They've played three games in the GLS Cup, and won them all, beating York City, Tamworth and Northwich, though all the games have been at home. They scored eleven goals in those three games, conceding only four. This stat helped largely by their 5-0 thrashing of Tamworth. In their last six games, they have scored eight goals, and conceded nine threatening to undo their season's good work.

Stanley's top scorer is Paul Mullin, whose twenty league and cup goals put him fourth in the leader board. Lee McEvilly will have something to say about the club's top scorer though, as with nineteen goals, he's pushing Mullin all the way, and currently sits in seventh in the leader board. It is Lee McEvilly who has scored most of Accrington's goals in the GLS cup, with five to his name. If the pair are playing, no doubt they'll be looking to add to their totals.

Most of Accrington's goals have been scored in the second half, with nineteen coming around the hour mark. This is also the period when they concede most heavily, though it's only thirteen goals. In total, they have scored sixty-four league goals while conceding only fifty-two. This indicates the level of opposition.

Peter Cavanagh and Ged Brennan are both injured for Stanley, and thus definitely won't be playing. However, they lined up in their 2-0 defeat at Crawley Town as:
1. Danny Alcock
2. Paul Howarth
3. Chris Butler
4. Robbie Williams
5. Mike Flynn
6. Matt O'Neil
7. Andrew Proctor
8. Paul Cook
9. David Brown
10. Paul Mullin
11. Gary Roberts

Celtic lined up against Worksop as:
1. Phil Robinson
2. Grant Black
3. Danny Caldecott
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Paul Sykes
6. Paul Shepherd
7. Steve Smith
8. Scott Bonsall
9. Andy Parton
10. Aron Wilford
11. Nathan Wharton

Celtic have played six games in the GLS, beating Bradford, Lancaster, Halifax, Worksop and lately, Morecambe. We have lost only three times this year, and in our last ten matches, we have won six, drawn three and lost one.

Craig Dootson picked up a knock at Morecambe. He was rested against Worksop, and will undergo a fitness check ahead of the game on Tuesday night. New signing Scott Willis is cup tied in the competition, having appeared for Runcorn, otherwise, there is a full squad to chose from. Including Mark Atkins, who played against Morecambe, and did very well. There had been six changes to the squad in that game, and it would be expected that neither team field full strength sides, with the league side of things taking a priority.

The winners of the match will face Woking on Wednesday the 27th of April. The venue currently will be decided on the toss of a coin, with the winning team hosting the event.
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