Match Preview :- Boston United - Saturday March 10th, 2012 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic will travel across to Lincolnshire for the Conference North clash with Boston United (kick off 3pm). Boston are currently tenth in the league on forty-three points, five places and eleven points behind Celtic. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Boston's home form has let them down this season, with only five home wins all season. Although they won their last home match 2-0 over Gloucester City they had two draws and a loss in their previous three. That said, they don't lose many at home, with only four home losses all season. Mainly they've been drawing their home matches, with six draws at home this season. The last team to beat them at home was Bishop's Stortford at the start of January.

In meetings between the two teams over the past thirty years, the away team has never won. The best result was a 1-1 draw when Celtic visited back in 1992. Celtic's last visit last season saw Celtic lose 1-0 when a draw looked on the cards. The last two meetings have been at Bower Fold, the one earlier this season seeing Celtic win 3-0, whilst last season it was 3-1.

Boston's top scorer this season has been Marc Newsham, who has twelve goals, twice as many as his closest rival, player/manager, Jason Lee. (on six). Just over half of their forty-one goals have come in the second half this season, with the last five minutes their most prolific period with eight goals scored. This late show from Boston has earned them thirteen points this season, grabbing four last minute winners, and a last gasp equaliser. They are most vulnerable just after the restart, with twelve of their conceded forty-three goals coming in the first ten minutes of the second half. On average they score 1.3 goals per game (1.2 at home), and concede 1.4 goals per game (1.1 at home).

Spencer Weir-Daley will require a fitness test ahead of Saturday's match after missing their 3-0 defeat away at Worcester through suspected appendicitis. They have no suspensions ahead of the game though and lined up in that match as:
1. Paul Bastock
2. Conor Marshall
3. Tom Ward
4. Nathan Stainfield
5. Gareth Jelleyman
6. Ben Milnes
7. Ian Ross
8. Danny Sleath
9. Ben Fairclough
10. Marc Newsham
11. Tyrone Kirk

Kristian Platt will still be available for selection against Boston despite his red card against Altrincham, the suspension for which doesn't kick in until the 20th of March. In that match, which finished 2-1 to Altrincham, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Jack Rea
3. Andy McWilliams
4. Rhys Meynell
5. Kristian Platt
6. Callum Warburton
7. Ollie Banks
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Phil Marsh
10. Craig Hobson
11. Arthur Gnahoua

The automated prediction algorithm is suggesting a 3-2 win for Boston, but Celtic need the win to stay in the play-offs. With Altrincham hosting Bishop's Stortford, they could easily replace Celtic in the top five. Gainsborough host Nuneaton, and a win for Gainsborough could also see them replace Celtic in the top spots. A win for Celtic, however, could lift them to third, possibly three points behind Nuneaton. Guiseley have a tricky away fixture at Gloucester, whilst either Hyde or Halifax will drop points in their match.

Other fixtures this Saturday (Celtic are fifth on fifty-four points):
Altrincham (52pts 6th) v Bishop's Stortford (36pts 18th)
Blyth Spartans (22pts 21st) v Eastwood Town (20pts 22nd)
Corby Town (42pts 11th) v Worcester City (47pts 9th)
Droylsden (39pts 13th) v Histon (37pts 17th)
Gainsborough Trinity (52pts 7th) v Nuneaton Town (60pts 2nd)
Gloucester City (39pts 12th) v Guiseley (56pts 3rd)
Harrogate Town (39pts 14th) v Vauxhall Motors (31pts 20th)
Hinckley United (33pts 19th) v Workington (38pts 16th)
Hyde (70pts 1st) v FC Halifax Town (56pts 4th)
Solihull Moors (38pts 15th) v Colwyn Bay (48pts 8th)

Directions
Distance: 115
Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes

Go via the Woodhead pass to the M1 and join the M1 heading South.
Stay on the M1 for 13 miles to Junction 31 (Worksop, A57).
At the roundabout turn left (exit 1 of 4) onto the A57 towards Worksop.
Stay on the A57 for thirteen miles to a roundabout with the A1.
Go straight across (exit 2 of 4) onto the A1.
Stay on the A1 for 19 miles to a roundabout with the A17.
Stay on the A17 for 33 miles to a junction with the A1121, exit here.
Stay on the A1121 for 5 miles where it merges with the A52 (Sleafort Road).
After an additional 2 miles there is a roundabout with the A16, turn left here (exit 1 of 3) onto the A16 (John Adams Way).
After less than a mile down the dual carriageway, turn right at the lights onto Main Ridge Road, and take the first left onto York Street.
The club is on the left.