On Wednesday night, Celtic travel to Ewen Fields to take on Mossley in the Manchester Premier Cup. Mossley are currently thirteenth in the Evo-Stik First Division (North), two whole divisions below Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Mossley have won eighteen of their forty-two league games this season, twelve of them at home, and had six draws. They have scored eighty league goals, and conceded seventy-six. Their top scorer across all competitions this season is Tom Pratt, who has sixteen goals, though Dave Short is running him close for the Golden Boot on fourteen. Their player to watch is Andy Keogh, and veteran Mike Fish has recently passed his two hundredth appearance for Mossley. Mossley won their last home game 1-0 over Scarborough Athletic, but that is their only win in their last six games, losing twice 2-3 (Northwich Vics and Burscough) and twice 1-3 (Spennymoor and Brighouse). They drew their other match 3-3 against Farsley Celtic.

Over the years, we've played Mossley a fair number of times, but since 2000 haven't met in a competitive match. In the last eight league meetings between the club, between 1988 and 1992, Celtic have won seven and Mossley once. Celtic signed off their last league match in 1992 with a 5-0 win, though the previous five had all been 1-0 wins. We've had four away wins and three at home over this period. Mossley's only victory in the time frame was in 1989 when they beat us at Bower Fold 3-0. In the seven friendlies played since then, we have won two and lost five.

Mossley may well be without several players due to injury, but are suspension free, despite Tom Dean's red card in their last match. In that match, the 3-1 away loss to Brighouse Town, Mossley lined up as:
1. Will Jones
2. Andy Fitzgerald
3. George Mannion
4. Liam Baker
5. Tom Dean
6. Sam Howell
7. John Bennett
8. Godwin Abadaki
9. Andy Keogh
10. Mike Fish
11. Dave Short

Celtic should be just about at full strength ahead of the match. In our last match, the 3-0 away win over Corby, we lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Peter Wylie
3. Danny Wisdom
4. Matty Hughes
5. Jack Higgins
6. Dale Wright
7. Charlie Joyce
8. Alec Mudimu
9. Steve Tames
10. Darius Osei
11. Adam Farrell

There is silverware available in this match, and now there is no distraction from the league, with both sides safe and unable to reach the play-offs, which should lead to an enjoyable, relaxed match.