Match Preview :- Gainsborough Trinity - Saturday August 18th, 2007 (15:00:00)
Saturday will see Celtic make their second away trip in three games when they travel to Lincolnshire to visit Gainsborough Trinity. Gainsborough away was the last game last season, and it was a game Gainsborough won playing on a Celtic side that was mathematically safe and having just heard of John Reed?s imminent departure.

We actually met Gainsborough four times last season, with Gainsborough winning the two league encounters (both 2-0), and Celtic earning a draw at the Northolme in the Trophy before taking them back to Bower Fold where we won 2-1. In the past twenty seasons, Stalybridge have drawn eight times at Gainsborough, lost three and won three. Our last win there, though, was back in 1999 when we beat them in the Trophy, whilst our last league victory was in 1998 when we won 4-1.

Gainsborough are currently eighth in the table (two places above Celtic on goal difference), with both teams having won their last game, having both lost their opening fixtures. Gainsborough lost 3-0 away at Southport, but won 4-0 at home to Blyth Spartans. New signing Paul Clayton netted two of the goals against the Spartans, whilst it transpires that Gainsborough have a Chris Hall of their own (which will make the match report interesting!), when he netted in the fourth. Despite their comprehensive victory over Blyth, the prediction algorithm is being bold and predicting a 2-0 win for Celtic in this match, overturning a decade of no wins at the Northolme.

There have been several other new signings, including Aaran Reid, who was a cover keeper for Simon Bishop last season.

Gainsborough lined up in their 4-0 win at home to Blyth as:
1. Aaran Reid
2. Danny Wood
3. Martin Drury
4. Nick Ellis
5. Richard Pell
6. Danny Anson
7. Alex Callery
8. Lewis McMahon
9. Paul Clayton
10. Ryan Mallon
11. Chris Hall

Celtic lined up in their 2-0 win away at Burscough as:
1. Paddy Gamble
2. Steve Payne
3. Andrew Smart
4. James Dudgeon
5. Terry Barwick
6. Paul Sykes
7. Ashley Burbeary
8. Ashley Winn
9. Chris Hall
10. Matty Barlow
11. Lee Ellington

Both teams having made good wins mid-week will make for an interesting game. It is a game that Celtic can get something out of, though, and one that would start to put Celtic at the right end of the table. Gainsborough have conceded three goals, to our one, but scored four to our two.
Directions
Distance: 67
Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes

Head up Mottram Road towards Mottram.
Join Mottram Road towards Hollingworth.
At the traffic lights with the A57 Woolly Lane towards Glossop, continue straight ahead towards Hollingworth and Tintwistle.
After the lights the road becomes the A628.
Stay on the A628 and it will become the Woodhead pass.
After about 14 miles, you will reach the Flouch roundabout.
Turn right (exit 3 of 4) to join the A616 (signposted M1).
After 9 miles you will reach another roundabout, go straight across (exit 3 of 5) to stay on the A616.
After 1 1/2 miles you will reach the M1.
Join the M1 going southbound towards London.
Stay on the M1 for 10 miles to junction 32 (M18, The North, Doncaster, Hull).
Join the M18 towards the North, and leave at Junction 1 (A631, Rotherham).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right towards Bawtry onto the A631.
Stay on the A631 following signs for Bawtry.
There are a couple of doglegs, t-junctions and roundabouts, but just keep on the A631 for about 22 miles until you reach the set of traffic lights after the oil depot with a dual carriageway ahead and a railway bridge going over the top.
Turn left here onto the A159 (Trinity Street), signposted for Gainsborough.
You will pass a large Tesco on the right, about half a mile further, there is a Total Petrol Station on the left hand side of the road - the ground is on the opposite side.
Parking is street based and limited.