On Saturday, there's a long trip down south for Celtic as we travel to face Oxford City in the Blue Square North clash, kick off 3pm. Oxford are currently fourth in the table, six points, and four places above Celtic on twenty-three points, having played two games more. There will be a Match Centre for this game.
Oxford have adapted nicely to life in the North. They have lost just four times all season, drawn just twice and won seven. So far, only Chester and Guiseley have beaten them in Oxford, though Worcester and Altrincham held them to a draw. Their last home match was a 5-0 thumping of Workington, whilst their last match was a surprise 2-1 defeat to Vauxhall Motors. Oxford have played two more games than Celtic, and are six points ahead, but as anybody will tell you, it is better to have the points in the bag.
This will be the first meeting of these two teams, and the odds are probably in Oxford's favour, given their recent form, and position in the table.
Oxford's top scorer this season is Declan Bejamin on siz goals, with Steve Basham his closest rival on four. They have scored twenty-five goals (fifteen at home), at a rate of 1.9 per game (2.1 at home) and conceded seventeen goals (ten at home) at a rate of 1.3 per game (1.4 at home). Their most dangerous period is straight after the interval, where they have scored ten of their twenty-five goals, and they have no particular vulnerable period.
In their last match, the 2-1 away defeat to Vauxhall Motors, Oxford lined up as:
1. Warren Carter
2. Jack Mills
3. Paul Stonehouse
4. Andy Ballard
5. Adam Learoyd
6. Chris Willmott
7. Jacob Walcott
8. Liam Malone
9. Nabil Shariff
10. Jamie Cook
11. Darren Pond
Celtic's last match was the thrilling 5-3 away defeat in the FA Cup, when we went out to Stockport County. In that match Celtic lined up as:
1. Alex Cairnes
2. Joel Bembo-Leta
3. Mark Lees
4. Tim Ryan
5. Kristian Platt
6. Jordan Barrow
7. Adam Pepper
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Jack Laird
10. Jamie Mullan
11. Mitchell Austin
A win on Saturday could propel Celtic back into the play-off spots, whilst a defeat could see us drop into mid-table. Other matches this weekend (Celtic are eighth on seventeen points):
Boston United (15th 13pts) v Worcester City (6th 19pts)
Brackley Town (1st 12pts) v Halifax Town (5th 19pts)
Bradford Park Avenue (10th 16pts) v Bishop's Stortford (16th 11pts)
Chester (2nd 28pts) v Histon (17th 10pts)
Droylsden (21st 8pts) v Colwyn Bay (15th 13pts)
Gainsborough Trinity (9th 16pts) v Workington (14th 15pts)
Guiseley (3rd 27pts) v Vauxhall Motors (11th 16pts)
Harrogate Town (12th 15pts) v Corby Town (20th 10pts)
Hinckley United (22nd 3pts) v Gloucester City (19th 10pts)
Solihull Moors (18th 10pts) v Altrincham (7th 17pts)
