Match Preview :- Harrogate Town - Saturday September 13th, 2008 (15:00:00)
Saturday Celtic welcome our nemesis from Yorkshire when Harrogate pay us a visit. Though we have beaten them four times at Bower Fold, we have failed to score at Watnall Road in five out of six games, losing five and drawing one. Harrogate are second in the table, one point and one place ahead of Celtic, coming into the game, like ourselves, on the back of defeat in the Setanta Shield, they to Fleetwood. There will be a live match centre for this game.

In the league, Harrogate?s home record is as good as ever, but away from home, they have won once at four times of asking, beating Gateshead at the International Stadium, but losing to Southport, drawing at Workington and, most recently, losing 3-1 away at Tamworth. Harrogate have kept four clean sheets this season, with the 0-0 draw at Workington their only clean sheet on the road. At home they have conceded just once, but have conceded five away. Harrogate have failed to score in two of their away matches, but thanks to their home form, they have the fourth best attack in the league, and the second best defence.

Harrogate?s last visit to the Fold was in January when we beat them 3-2, with three second half goals overturning Harrogate?s first half lead. Our last meeting was at Watnall Road (since renamed to the CNG Stadium) in February when we lost 2-0. Harrogate?s last win at Bower Fold was in March 2007 when we lost 2-0.

Harrogate have scored most of their goals this season (nine of their twelve) in the second half, but conceded their six goals equally between the two halves. Their top scorers are Darren Dunning and Richard Marshall, with three apiece. Last season?s top scorer, Danny Holland is right behind them on two. Harrogate have reputedly signed James Dean from Hyde, so we could be facing our former hit man earlier than expected. In their last league match, the 3-1 defeat away at Tamworth, Harrogate lined up as:
1. Jim Provett
2. Ryan Toulson
3. Danny Lowe
4. Denny Ingram
5. Tim Ryan
6. Shane Killock
7. Matty Young
8. Darren Dunning
9. Richard Marshall
10. Danny Holland
11. Michael Roddy

Celtic lost to Southport in the Setanta Shield on Tuesday, but beat Farsley Celtic away on Saturday in the league. There had been a number of changes to the starting line up for the Shield match, and in the 3-2 league win over Farsley, Celtic lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Ashley Woolliscroft
3. Rhys Meynell
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Terry Barwick
6. Paul Sykes
7. Steve Torpey
8. Keith Briggs
9. Lee Ellington
10. Matty Barlow
11. Chris Williams

Nathan Joynes looks to be close to a return, but Terry Barwick will definitely be out, with the first of his three match ban starting on Saturday.

The automated prediction algorithm is predicting a close fought match against Harrogate, with Celtic the slight favourites in its eyes, suggesting a 2-1 win for Celtic. This would be a great result, as it would put us in the top two. Depending on how Southport get on in their match at home to Hucknall (who have not won this season), we could even overtake Southport, should we win, and they don?t.
Match Sponsor
Brother UK/
Buckton Vale Institute/
Sunlight
Ball Sponsor
Buckton Vale Institute
Man of the Match Sponsor
HMG Paints
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