Match Preview :- Eastwood Town - Saturday March 31st, 2012 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic travel to Eastwood for the Conference North clash (kick off 3pm). Eastwood are currently propping up the table and are already relegated, being unable to catch Hinckley. They are sixteen places and thirty-nine points behind Celtic having played a game more. There will be a live match centre for this game.

Eastwood have won just four games all season, their most recent win being a surprise 2-1 away win at Guiseley at the end of February. Before that you have to go back to the end of October to find their previous win 2-1 away at Vauxhall. Their last (and only) home win was at the end of August when they beat Gloucester City 2-1. They are going into Saturday's game on the back of five straight defeats, most recently losing 2-0 at Gainsborough, their last home match being a 1-0 defeat to Harrogate Town. Their most recent points at home were a pair of draws to Solihull (1-1) and Halifax (2-2).

Our last meeting with Eastwood was in September when Celtic won 2-1. Our last visit to Eastwood was last season when we drew 1-1. Our last win there was the season before, Eastwood's first season at this level, which Celtic won 3-1. Eastwood have beaten us just once, a 2-1 win in the FA Cup at Bower Fold last season. Out of the five previous league meetings, Celtic have won four and drawn once. The automated prediction algorithm has this one down as a 4-2 win for Celtic, although Eastwood have not scored in three consecutive games.

Eastwood's top two scorers are Jason Bradley and Franny Green, who both have five apiece, although Josh Burge, Jervaise Christie and Craig Westcarr are all right behind them on four. They score most of their goals right after the restart, when they have netted seven of their thirty-five goals this season. The last quarter of an hour is their most vulnerable, with twenty-two of their eighty-six goals being scored in this period. On average they score a goal per game (1.1 overall) and concede 2.4 goals per game (2.3 at home). They have failed to score in seven home games this season, sixteen overall.

There have been a lot of players leaving Eastwood recently, and Markell Bailey is suspended. Information on their squad for the 2-0 loss to Gainsborough or injuries is unavailable.

Celtic's last match was an outstanding 4-1 win over play-off chasing Nuneaton Town. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Jan Budtz
2. Mark Lees
3. Rhys Meynell
4. Tim Ryan
5. Chris Lynch
6. Jack Rea
7. Callum Warburton
8. Greg Wilkinson
9. Craig Hobson
10. Mitchell Austin
11. Stephen Brogan

Celtic are just two points off a play-off spot, although Nuneaton Town will most likely be docked six points, which would put Celtic fifth. We have a game in hand in all five teams above us except Guiseley. A win on Saturday could put Celtic up to fourth (or third taking Nuneaton's point deduction), with Gainsborough hosting Colwyn Bay, and Halifax hosting Histon. The game of the day sees Altrincham travel to Nuneaton who have a point to prove, and will be trying to ensure they finish in a play-off spot. Worcester, who are also only two points behind us, are away at Harrogate, a game they should win.

Other fixtures this Saturday (Celtic are sixth on 59 points):
FC Halifax Town (61pts 4th) v Histon (42pts 16th)
Gainsborough Trinity (61pts 5th) v Colwyn Bay (48pts 11th)
Gloucester City (46pts 13th) v Boston United (50pts 9th)
Guiseley (69pts 2nd) v Corby Town (46pts 12th)
Harrogate Town (42pts 18th) v Worcester City (57pts 8th)
Hinckley United (40pts 19th) v Droylsden (49pts 10th)
Hyde (74pts 1st) v Bishop's Stortford (43pts 15th)
Nuneaton Town (64pts 3rd) v Altrincham (57pts 7th)
Vauxhall Motors (38pts 20th) v Blyth Spartans (27pts 21st)
Workington (42pts 17th) v Solihull Moors (46pts 14th)

Directions
Distance: 67
Time: 1 hour and 30 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 Woodhead Pass to the Flouch Roundabout (about 11 miles from Tintwistle).
Turn right (exit 3 of 4) onto the A616 (signposted for the M1).
After nine miles, there is a roundabout with the A61; continue straight across (exit 3 of 4) to stay on the A616 (signposted M1 Southbound).
After a mile join the M1 Southbound at junction 35a.
Stay on the M1 for 35 miles to junction 27 (A608, Hucknall).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road, turn right onto A608 (Mansfield Road).
Bear left onto the B600 (Willey Lane.
After 2 miles turn right at the roundabout onto the B6010 (Moorgreen).
At the end of the road, turn right onto Nottingham Road and take the second left onto Chewton Street, the ground is on the right.