Match Preview :- Harrogate Town - Saturday February 25th, 2012 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic will travel to Yorkshire to face Harrogate Town in the Blue Square Bet North (kick off 3pm). Harrogate are currently on thirty-five points in seventeenth, fifteen points and eleven places behind sixth placed Celtic. There will a match centre for this game.

This has been Harrogate's poorest season since the formation of the Conference North. Although they have never been in any danger of going into the drop spots, they have spent the majority of the season in the bottom half of the table. A run of two wins in twelve game saw them drop down to their current position, and although they have won three of their last four games, they have not managed to climb the table, although a win on Saturday could lift them four places. A win for Celtic could lift us back to third. Harrogate's recent home form has seen them lose only once (to Guiseley) in the last six games, taking in three wins over that period.

Celtic lost 2-0 in our last visit to Wetherby Road, after losing 1-0 to Harrogate earlier in the season, whilst our last win there was in March 2010 when we won 4-0. Our last win over them was earlier this season at Bower Fold when we beat them 3-2. The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting the same score-line again with a 3-2 win to the home side.

Harrogate's last home win this season was against Hinckley, whom they beat 2-1, with two other wins away from home seeing them beat Bishop's Stortford 4-3 and (most recently) beat Gainsborough Trinity at the Northolme 1-0. Harrogate have kept seven clean sheets this season, but heavy losses at Altrincham (2-5), Solihull (1-5), Guiseley (0-4) and Histon (0-4) have made them middle of the table defensively, conceding 52 goals this season. They have failed to score ten times this season – most recently their two home games to Histon and Guiseley, but have managed to find the net four times in two matches beating Colwyn Bay and Bishop's Stortford.

Harrogate's top scorer this season is Paul Brayson with eleven goals. Richard Pell and Jonny Allan are way behind on four apiece. They average 1.3 goals per game (1.1 at home) and concede 1.9 goals per game (1.2 at home). Their most dangerous period is midway through the second half when they have scored ten goals, whilst they are vulnerable throughout the second half, but especially just after the hour mark when they have conceded seventeen goals, with another nine going in during the final moments of a match.

Harrogate will be without Stephen Turnbull for the match, as he is midway through a four match suspension for his sending off against Hinckley. Jonny Allan will be having a fitness test, having picked up a knock, meaning he missed the 1-0 away win at Gainsborough, as will Adam Nowakwoski is who has been out for several weeks. Midfielder Michael Brough is a long term injury for the club as is Danny Stimpson and Liam Hardy; whilst Patrece Liburd is suffering from a knee injury and Alex Meechan a hamstring injury. In that match, Harrogate lined up as:
1. Mark Cook
2. Jake Picton
3. Paul Heckingbottom
4. Laurie Wilson
5. Alan White
6. Richard Pell
7. Robbie Youhill
8. Paul Bolland
9. Paul Brayson
10. Chib Chilaka
11. Craig Radcliffe

Celtic will be without Andy McWilliams, who is serving the last of his three match bans for his sending off against Colwyn Bay. Celtic are now eight league games without a win. Our last match saw Celtic draw 1-1 away at Blyth. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Kristian Platt
3. Callum Warburton
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Joel Bembo-Leta
6. Jack Rea
7. Stephen Brogan
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Arthur Gnahoua
11. Mitchell Austin

With Gainsborough hosting Vauxhall and Guiseley hosting Eastwood, there should be regulation wins for two of the teams above us, although Nuneaton and host Halifax, which will see one or the other drop points. After an enforced break, Hyde return to action to face Droylsden, which will be a test for the top club. With Guiseley nine points behind the league leaders with three games in hand, it remains to see how Hyde handle the pressure. Other games this weekend (Celtic have fifty points and cannot any places drop):
Bishop's Stortford (30pts 18th) v Altrincham (46pts 7th)
Boston United (40pts 10th) v Gloucester City (39pts 12th)
Gainsborough Trinity (51pts 5th) v Vauxhall Motors (27pts 20th)
Guiseley (52pts 4th) v Eastwood Town (17pts 21st)
Hinckley United (30pts 19th) v Corby Town (39pts 11th)
Histon (36pts 14th) v Colwyn Bay (44pts 8th)
Hyde (61pts 1st) v Droylsden (36pts 13th)
Nuneaton Town (53pts 2nd) v FC Halifax Town (53pts 3rd)
Solihull Moors (35pts 15th) v Workington (35pts 16th)
Worcester City (41pts 9th) v Blyth Spartans (16pts 28th)

Directions
Distance: 68
Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Head up the M60 towards Oldham.
At junction 18 join the M62 towards Leeds.
After 35 miles you will reach junction 29 (M1).
Join the M1 going north.
Stay on the M1 for 7 miles to the end where it joins the A1 going north.
Stay on the A1 for 5 miles to the junction with the A661 (Wetherby).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to stay on the A661.
After 400 yards there is a set of lights.
Turn left here to stay on the A661 (signposted Harrogate).
The road is called Market Place.
After approximately 6 miles there is a roundabout with the A658.
Go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to stay on the A661.
After a further 2 miles, the ground is on the right, just after a pedestrian crossing.
Parking is available on Lancaster Park Road just past the ground on the right.