Match Preview :- Harrogate Town - Saturday April 2nd, 2016 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic travel to Wetherby Road to face Harrogate Town (kick off 3pm). Harrogate are currently fourth in the league with sixty-one points, thirteen places and nineteen places above Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Harrogate have been in the top five for most of the season, dropping to seventh only after a poor November that saw them win just one of five games, losing two and drawing two. Although they have been consistently fourth through March, the chasing pack have caught them up as they are going through their worst period this season, and haven't won in six games. Their last win was a five-nil demolition of FC United of Manchester at Wetherby Road that finished a run of two losses and eight wins in their previous ten games. Their last three homes games have been two draws and a loss, the loss being to AFC Telford. Of those last six games, five of them have been against teams in the bottom third. However, they are still mathematically capable of winning the league outright; being one of only four teams that can catch Solihull.

Harrogate's top scorer this season is Brendon Daniels, whose fifteen goals make him the joint fourth highest goal scorer in the league, behind the three way tie of Dayle Southwell, Danny Rowe and Tom Denton. They have the longest consecutive goals scored, with eighteen games, along with four consecutive clean sheets. They have the fourth best attack in the league, and are generally a second half team, scoring thirty-nine of their fifty-nine goals in the second half. Their most vulnerable period is just before the interval when they have conceded a quarter of their forty goals.

We've already faced Harrogate this season, losing 1-0 at home in the thrice postponed game. It had been a tight game in which Harrogate managed to convert one of very few chances. Our previous win over Harrogate was at the end of last season, when we won 2-1, Michael Powell and Aidan Chippendale. Chippendale's cross that turned into a shot put Celtic within reach of safety in that match. Our last visit to Wetherby Road finished 1-0 to Harrogate and you have to go back six games to 2010 for our last win there, a magnificent 4-0 win thanks to a Jody Banim Brace and one a piece from Michael Carr and Lee Dodgson. We did manage a goalless draw their in 2013, and a 1-1 in 2012. In thirteen visits, we have won only twice with Harrogate winning eight.

Harrogate have Lloyd Kerry a doubt, whilst their injury list remains quite long, with former Celt James Cadman joining Dominic Knowles, Ryan Fallowfield , Liam Hearn and Lewis Turner in the stands. In their last match, the 3-1 away defeat to Bradford Park Avenue, Harrogate lined up as:
1. Peter Crook
2. Danny Colbeck
3. Mason Warren
4. Paul Thirlwell
5. Danny Ellis
6. Luke Foster
7. Jordan Thewlis
8. Warren Burrell
9. Paul Clayton
10. Tom Platt
11. Brendan Daniels

Celtic are now unbeaten in three, with our last match being the goalless draw against Chorley. Matty Hughes is still a major doubt with a fractured eye socket. In that match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Oliver Crowley
3. Danny Wisdom
4. John Shaw
5. Jack Higgins
6. Aaron Chalmers
7. Danny Burns
8. Dale Wright
9. Steve Tames
10. Alex Mudimu
11. Aidan Chippendale

A win for Celtic could lift them four places, and still have games in hand over those teams above us. We have three games in hand on Alfreton in eleventh, and are six points behind them. A draw could lift us two places, depending on the Gloucester and Telford results. A loss for Celtic on Saturday, though, could see Worcester City overtake us.

Brackley Town (38pts 19th) v AFC Fylde (66pts 3rd)
Corby Town (31pts 22nd) v Alfreton Town (48pts 11th)
Curzon Ashton (50pts 10th) v Hednesford Town (31pts 21st)
FC United of Manchester (46pts 12th) v Boston United (58pts 6th)
Gainsborough Trinity (45pts 13th) v Gloucester City (43pts 15th)
North Ferriby United (66pts 2nd) v Worcester City (40pts 18th)
Nuneaton Town (59pts 5th) v AFC Telford (42pts 16th)
Solihull Moors (78pts 1st) v Bradford Park Avenue (43pts 14th)
Stockport County (51pts 9th) v Lowestoft Town (36pts 20th)
Tamworth (56pts 7th) v Chorley (53pts 8th)

Directions
Distance: 68
Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Head up the M60 towards Oldham.
At junction 18 join the M62 towards Leeds.
After 35 miles you will reach junction 29 (M1).
Join the M1 going north.
Stay on the M1 for 7 miles to the end where it joins the A1 going north.
Stay on the A1 for 5 miles to the junction with the A661 (Wetherby).
At the roundabout at the end of the slip road go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to stay on the A661.
After 400 yards there is a set of lights.
Turn left here to stay on the A661 (signposted Harrogate).
The road is called Market Place.
After approximately 6 miles there is a roundabout with the A658.
Go straight across (exit 2 of 4) to stay on the A661.
After a further 2 miles, the ground is on the right, just after a pedestrian crossing.
Parking is available on Lancaster Park Road just past the ground on the right.