Match Preview :- Stocksbridge Park Steels - Saturday November 26th, 2016 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic hop over the Woodhead Pass to face Stocksbridge Park Steels in the FA Trophy (kick off 3pm). Stocksbridge are currently eleventh in the Evo-Stick Northern League Division One South. There will be a match centre for this game.

Stocksbridge have won seven of their sixteen league games this season, and drawn three. At home they have won three from seven and drawn one. Stocksbridge won their most recent game, beating Spalding United 3-2 away from home. At home, their last win was in the FA Trophy when they beat Lancaster City 2-1 in the first qualifying round. They beat Kidsgrove Athletic 5-3 (away) in the second qualifying round setting themselves up for the home tie against us. This is now the only cup that they are left in, after being beaten in the county cup 4-0 at home by Frickley, and in the league cup 2-0 by Spennymoor Town.

In the league, Stocksbridge's top scorer is Joe Lumsden, with eight. They are scoring 1.4 goals per game, whilst conceding 1.5 goals per game. They have failed to score in seven games, and kept four clean sheets.

We've met Stocksbridge twice, both times in the FA Cup and both times beating them. In the last match, Celtic won 7-2, with six different scorers, a brace from Keith Briggs, and the goals from Connor Jennings, Dave Hankin, Craig Hobson, Matty Barlow and Joe O'Neil. Stocksbridge's goals were both scored by Jamie Vardy, who has since gone on to score for England, and helped Leicester to the Premiership title. They are rightly proud of him.

In Stocksbridge's last match, the 3-2 win over Spalding United, Steels lined up as:
1. David Reay
2. Joshua Meade
3. George Grason
4. Corey Gregory
5. Liam McFadzean
6. Matt Reay
7. Adam Hinchcliffe
8. Harrison Biggins
9. Joe Lumsden
10. Scott Tuthven
11. Nathaniel Crofts

In Celtic's last match, the 2-1 away defeat to Tamworth, Celtic lined up as:
1. Grant Shenton
2. Danny Morton
3. Adam Mather
4. Matty Hughes
5. Josh Heaton
6. Darren McKnight
7. Josh Hine
8. Gary Gee
9. Scott Spencer
10. Callum Bagshaw
11. Aidan Chippendale

Although this game is against lower league opposition, if Celtic want to progress in the competition, the game cannot be taken lightly. There have been too many slip-ups in the past that have limited Celtic's cup runs.

Directions
Distance: 22
Time: 35 minutes

Head away from Bower Fold towards Glossop.
At the traffic lights at the Glossop turning, continue straight to join the A628.
Stay on the A628 through Tintwistle to where it becomes the Woodhead Pass.
Stay on the A628 for 14 miles to the Flouch roundabout, and turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A616 towards the M1.
After 4 miles join the B6088 towards Stocksbridge.
Stay on the B6088 (Manchester Road) for 1 1/2 miles and bear right onto Nanny Road.
Follow the road around and the ground is on the left.