On Saturday, weather permitting(!) Celtic will make their third foray into the FA Cup when we take on Longridge Town. Kick off 3pm. Pay on the gate is available. Longridge are in the North West Counties Premier league, which has yet to start.

Despite not having started their league yet, it starts on Wednesday for Longridge, they have played a competitive match, beating Widnes 3-2 in Widnes in the previous round of the FA Cup. They have continued to play regular friendlies since that point. We have also played Longridge before, in pre-season, when we beat them 4-0 in Longridge thanks to second half goals from Mike Burke, Harry Freedman, Charley Doyle and a penalty from Lewis Salmon.

If the game finishes in a draw, it goes straight to penalties.

In Longridge’s last competitive match, they won 3-2 thanks to a ninetieth minute penalty won by Jack Anderton and converted by Joe Melling. They’d come from behind in the first half with Jack Anderton’s equaliser just before the interval and then took the lead through Paul Turner midway through the second half. In that match, they lined up as:
1. Lee Dovey
2. Dan Gray
3. Brandon Lee
4. Sam Harding
5. Ryan Schofield
6. Danny Wilkinson
7. Scott Harries
8. Harvey Macadam
9. Paul Turner
10. Tom Ince
11. Jack Anderton

Celtic’s last match was the 3-0 home defeat by Scarborough. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Tom Stewart
2. Luke Barlow
3. Ben Woods
4. Damani Holness
5. Tom Wilson
6. Stephen O’Halloran
7. Keano Deacon
8. Anthony Williams
9. Mike Burke
10. Jonathon Ustabasi
11. Harry Freedman

Celtic had a raft of injuries going into the game, with Nic Evangelinos, Freddie Sass, Matty Makinson, Charley Doyle and Scott Sephton all receiving treatment. Hopefully, they will start to return soon.

This is a great chance for Celtic to progress, but Longridge have been playing regularly since we met in pre-season and will be a different force in a competitive match. With winner takes all on the night, Celtic have to be at their best, but it is a chance for a few of the players to restore faith in themselves after a slow season start.