Match Preview :- Workington - Tuesday August 23rd, 2011 (19:45:00)

On Tuesday night Celtic make the long trip up the M6 to Cumbria to face Workington. Workington have had a poor start to the season, and are currently on one point in twentieth, eight points, and nineteen places behind Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Last season, Workington finished eleventh, three points and one place behind Celtic. Their top scorer was Gareth Arnison, who now plies his trade on the opposite coast with Blyth. He scored sixteen goals for the Reds, with Jonny Wright (still at the club) in second place with nine goals. Last season, Celtic took six points off Workington, with the 5-0 win at Victory Park possibly the Celt's best performance last season, with Phil Marsh putting four past the Cumbrian side after Lloyd Ellams had opened the scoring. We followed this with a 2-1 home win, a wonder goal from Andy McWilliams the highlight of that match. It was a different story in previous seasons, with Workington winning at home and drawing 2-2 at Celtic. Their last win at Bower Fold was the season before in January 2009 when they beat us 4-1. They have also knocked us out of the FA cup three times in the past 15 years, most recently in October 2007 when they beat us 5-0 at Bower Fold.

This season, Workington have yet to register a win in three games. On the opening day they were beaten 2-1 at home by Boston United, and followed this up with a 1-1 draw away at Altrincham and a 2-0 loss at Gloucester. In that game, Workington lined up as:
1. Aaran Taylor
2. Tony Hopper
3. Anthony Wright
4. Kyle May
5. Lee Andrews
6. Mark Boyd
7. Phil McLuckie
8. Dan Dillon
9. Jonny Wright
10. Dave McNiven
11. Gareth Arnison

Celtic have had their best start over 30 years by winning their opening three fixtures. We have won away at Nuneaton and at home to big spenders Harrogate and Gainsborough. In that last match, a comprehensive 4-0 win over Gainsborough Trinity, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Kristian Platt
6. Jack Rea
7. Adam Kay
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Lloyd Ellams
11. Craig Hobson

Neither team have any suspension worries, with Rhys Meynell's one match suspension meaning he will miss Halifax on Saturday but is available for selection against Workington.

Celtic have a good chance to start the season with four wins on the trot, setting us up nicely for Halifax.

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.