Match Preview :- Boston United - Saturday August 30th, 2014 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic travel east to face Boston United (kick off 3pm). Boston are currently fourth in the table on ten points, three points and nine places ahead of Celtic. There should be a match centre for this game.

Boston won their opening three games, beating Barrow at home (2-1), Brackley (1-0) and Colwyn Bay (3-2) away. However, they lost their last home game (1-0) to North Ferriby United and drew their last game away at Tamworth (1-1). For their seven goals, they have had six different scorers, with Dayle Southwell scoring twice in their 3-2 win over Colwyn Bay. Most of their goals (5) this season have come in the second half, whilst all of their conceded goals (4) have also come in the second half.

Last season, Boston missed out on a play off place finishing sixth on seventy-two points, six points away from the final play-off spot and thirty-three points and thirteen places ahead of Celtic with the third best attack in the league. They also held the league record for the most number of converted penalties with thirteen. Their best win was a 6-0 home win over Gainsborough, whilst Harrogate Town inflicted their worst defeat with a 4-0 score-line at Wetherby Road.

Celtic have never won in Boston, though we have managed two draws there in the last twenty years. Last season, we were beaten 4-1, after leading until the last quarter of an hour to a Joel Bembo-Lita goal, until Celtic were overwhelmed heading towards the whistle, with Ricky Miller hitting the post before the hosts struck four times to send Celtic home pointless. When Boston visited Celtic earlier in the season, the game finished 3-3, with two from Phi Marsh, and a Kristian Platt free kick on the score-sheet for Celtic. The season before Celtic finished 2-2, a rare point for Celtic in Boston, after they'd beat us 1-0 earlier in the season. Celtic's last win over Boston was at Bower Fold in December 2011, when we won 3-0, with Craig Hobson scoring twice after Arthur Gnahoua opened the scoring.

Boston may be missing Jamie McGhee for the game, with a knee injury; whilst Jay Dowie and Marc Newsham are long term injuries for the Pilgrims. In their last match, the 1-1 draw with Tamworth, Boston lined up as:
1. Matt Gledhill
2. Zak Mills
3. Scott Garner
4. Carl Piergianni
5. Rene Steer
6. Niall Doran
7. Michael Hollingsworth
8. Danny Meadows
9. Kaine Felix
10. Chris Dickinson
11. Dayle Southwell

Celtic will be looking to build on their thrilling win 3-2 over Stockport County on Monday, and have new signing Wade Joyce to slot into the midfield. Lewis King should feel right at home, as he signed for Celtic from Boston. In our last match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Lewis King
2. Kelvin Bleau
3. Jack Truelove
4. Matty Hughes
5. Matt Regan
6. Sam Staunton-Turner
7. Aidan Chippendale
8. Matty Mainwaring
9. Ben McKenna
10. Charlie Ennis
11. Liam Dickinson

Celtic could push their way into the top third of the table with a win, whilst a loss could see us drop several places, such is a the swing this early in the season. Other game on Saturday:
AFC Fylde (7pts 9th) v Hednesford Town (7pts 12th)
Chorley (8pts 8th) v Brackley Town (4pts 19th)
Gainsborough Trinity (7pts 10th) v Bradford Park Avenue (10pts 5th)
Guiseley (10pts 3rd) v Gloucester City (4pts 16th)
Harrogate Town (2pts 21st) v Oxford City (9pts 7th)
Hyde (0pts 22nd) v Tamworth (6pts 14th)
Leamington FC (7pts 11th) v Colwyn Bay (4pts 20th)
Solihull Moors (4pts 17th) v Barrow (10pts 2nd)
Stockport County (6pts 15th) v Lowestoft Town (9pts 6th)
Worcester City (4pts 18th) v North Ferriby United (13pts 1st)

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.