It?s the Clash of the Celtic?s on Wednesday (Kick of 7:45pm). The first time that two teams called Celtic have played each other in a league match since the formation of the NPL in the 80's. Bragging rights as well as three points are up for grabs. With Farsley sitting just one place and one point behind Stalybridge in the table on thirteenth, a tough game will be ahead.
Farsley?s last game was a creditable 0-0 draw with Milton Keynes Dons, which will give them a lucrative replay next week, hopefully distracting them from the game in hand. 0-0 shouldn?t have been a surprise, as Farsley have an excellent defensive record coming into the game, having conceded only eighteen goals all season. They have kept four clean sheets in the league this season, two of them away (at Scarborough and Worcester). On average they concede 1.6 goals per game away from home (1.3 overall), though only Droylsden, Blyth and Workington have scored three or more past them, with most teams managing only one. At the other end of the pitch, with seventeen goals all season they have an average of a goal a game away from home (1.2 overall). They?ve failed to score in four games, with two of them away at Workington and Scarborough.
Their main source of goals is Damian Reeves, whose eight league goals put him on a par with Lee Ellington, joint second in the league?s overall scorers chart. Whereas Stalybridge have Mark Hume, Paul Sykes and Steve Brodie all on four or more, Reeves? closest competitors for the Farsley Golden Boot are Simeon Bambrook and Ryan Crossley who have two apiece.
Based on the two teams? recent performances, the automated algorithm has gone for a 3-2 scoreline, with Stalybridge Celtic the victor. A good result, and other games going our way, could see us climb to tenth, three points outside the play-offs and seven points behind league leaders Hinckley ahead of that clash there. A win is not unheard of, as the last time we played Farsley in 1999, we beat them 4-2 in the FA Cup.
They?ll be a fair few tired legs in the Farsley camp, but they do not appear to have any injuries or suspension worries ahead of the game, and no doubt will want to keep it that way. In the FA Cup game which they drew at home to MK Dons, they lined up as:
1. Paul Cuss
2. Chris Stabb
3. Martin Pemberton
4. James Knowles
5. Ryan Crossley
6. Carl Serrant
7. Andy Watson
8. Simeon Bambrook
9. Garreth Grant
10. Craig Midgley
11. Roy Stamer
Stalybridge Celtic are still without Mark Haran, and in our last game, the 3-2 win over Alfreton Town, we lined up as:
1. Paul Pettinger
2. Grant Black
3. Scott Maxfield
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Paul Sykes
6. Ashley Winn
7. Steve Smith
8. Steve Brodie
9. Lee Ellington
10. Mark Hume
11. Neil Prince
Hopefully Celtic can build on Saturday?s win, and get a bit of self belief ahead of playing the league leaders on Saturday. Farsley will be a lot tougher to break down than Alfreton.