Match Preview :- Workington - Saturday November 6th, 2010 (15:00:00)
On Saturday Celtic travel north to Workington for the Blue Square Bet Conference North clash (kick off 3pm). Workington are currently seventh in the table on twenty-two points, ten points and nine places ahead of Celtic, with a game in hand on us. There is a coach to this match, and there will be a live score centre.

Workington are one point off a play off place, having lost on Saturday away at Droylsden to fall out of the top five. They attained a play-off place by continuing last season?s cracking form to start this season with six wins and a draw out of the opening seven games. However, after losing away at Boston 4-0 they have won once in the last four, beating Worcester away from home. Only Eastwood so far this season have failed to score past them, which has meant that when a team has locked them out, Workington have lost, failing to score in all three defeats. Their only defeat at home was to Nuneaton, two Saturday?s ago.

We lost on our last visit to Workington, a cold Tuesday night in February, a game we lost 1-0. Our last win there was the season before when we came away 2-0 winners. Generally, though, with five defeats out of the last seven times Celtic have visited Workington, Workington have the upper hand at over Celtic. At Bower Fold it is more even with both teams winning three and drawing three there, in the last nine meetings, including FA Cup clashes.

Workington?s top scorer this season is tied three ways between Matty Tymon, Jonny Wright and Shaun Vipond all of whom are on three goals apiece, however neither Wright nor Vipond have not scored since August. They are both at their most dangerous and most vulnerable in the last quarter of an hour, when they have scored six of their sixteen goals, and conceded five of their sixteen goals. On average they score 1.4 goals a game (1.6 at home) and concede 1.4 goals a game (one at home). They have kept one clean sheet and failed to score three times.

Workington have loaned Darlington striker Michael Smith, who made his debut from the bench against Droylsden. Also on loan is Carlisle United striker, Ryan Bowman. Phil McLuckie and Jonny Wright are both injured and doubts for the game, whilst Dave Hewson is suspended.
In their last match, the 3-0 away defeat at Droylsden, Workington lined up as:
1. Aaron Taylor
2. Alex White
3. Gari Rowntree
4. Kyle May
5. Lee Andrews
6. Shaun Vipond
7. Stephen Hindmarch
8. Jonny Blake
9. Gareth Arnison
10. Ryan Bowman
11. Anthony Wright

Celtic are suspension free ahead of the match, and in our last game, the 1-0 home defeat to AFC Telford United, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Glenn Rule
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Alan White
5. Kristian Platt
6. Jack Rea
7. Callum Warburton
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Adam Kay

The automated prediction league is suggesting a 3-2 win for Workington in this match. Hopefully, though, Celtic can turn around their three consecutive losses with a rare win in Cumbria.

Other matches on Saturday:
AFC Telford (26pts 4th) v Solihull Moors (17pts 10th)
Blyth Spartans (19pts 9th) v Boston United (30pts 2nd)
Gainsborough Trinity (10pts 17th) v Redditch United (7pts 20th)
Guiseley (28pts 3rd) v Droylsden (22pts 6th)
Harrogate Town (15pts 13th) v Corby Town (21pts 8th)
Hinckley United (9pts 18th) v Alfreton Town (31pts 1st)
Hyde (6pts 21st) v Nuneaton Town (23pts 5th)
Stafford Rangers (9pts 19th) v Eastwood Town (12pts 15th)
Worcester City (15pts 12th) v Vauxhall Motors (13pts 14th)

A win for Celtic could see us rise three or four places, whereas a loss could see us drop to just outside the relegation spots, thus a win is vital if we are to keep some space between us and the bottom two.
Directions
Distance: 157
Time: 3 hours and 15 minutes

From the M60, take M61 (junction 15) to Preston.
Follow the M61 right to the end and join the M6 towards South Lakes.
After about 65 miles on the M6 take Junction 40 onto the A66 (Penrith, North Lakes).
On the roundabout at the end of the slip-road, turn left (exit 1 of 4) onto the A66.
Stay on the A66 for 37 miles (going straight across 4 roundabouts) to a t-junction with the A596 (Bridge Street).
At the roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A596 (Bridge Street).
After a mile, at the roundabout, turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto A597 (Hill Crest), cross the bridge and the ground is on the left.