Match Preview :- FC Halifax Town - Saturday September 10th, 2016 (15:00:00)

On Saturday, Celtic travel to Halifax Town for the league clash. With two losses and a draw in their last four games, Halifax have faltered slightly, and now sit in ninth, ten places and eleven points ahead of Celtic. There will be a match centre for this game.

Last season, Halifax were relegated from the Conference National by one point. Guiseley finished twentieth on forty-nine, Halifax in the first drop spot, with forty-eight. They had a disastrous season, with five points from their first thirty, before sacking Neil Aspin and replacing him with Darren Kelly, who lost six out of seven, and was replaced by former Celtic manager, Jim Harvey. Under Harvey, fortunes turned around, and Halifax got to the FA Trophy final, which they won. However, Harvey couldn't keep Halifax up, and Harvey was replaced by North Ferriby manager, Billy Heath.

This season, Halifax started well, unbeaten in their opening five games, winning three and drawing two. Recently, losses away at Fylde (2-3) and at home to Harrogate (0-1) saw Halifax drop from top spot to tenth. Their most recent match, the 2-2 away draw with Salford has raised them to their current ninth spot. Halifax have kept two clean sheets (both at home) and failed to score once (at home to Harrogate). Former North Ferriby striker, Tom Denton, is their top scorer with seven, and Halifax have already scored nineteen goals at a rate of 2.1 a game. They have conceded twelve, at a rate of 1.3 per game.

Celtic have never won at the Shay, but we've never lost, either; we drew 0-0 in our last match in February 2013. Our previous visit was 2-2. In the other two league meetings between the two sides, at Bower Fold, Celtic won both, the most recent meeting in April 2013, when we won 1-0 with Mitchell Austin grabbing the goal.

Halifax have a full squad to choose from, in their last match, the 2-2 away draw at Salford, Halifax lined up as:
1. Stephen Drench
2. Cliff Moyo
3. Scott Garner
4. Danny Hone
5. Michael Wilde
6. Josh Macdonald
7. Liam King
8. Jake Hibbs
9. Kevin Roberts
10. Richard Peniket
11. Tom Denton

Celtic won their last match 3-2, the first match overseen by Celtic's new management duo, beating Gainsborough Trinity at home. The only injury doubts against Halifax are John Shaw (ill) and Callum Bagshaw (ankle). In the Trinity match, Celtic lined up as:
1. Tony McMillan
2. Danny Wisdom
3. Graham Kelly
4. Jay Gorton
5. Matty Hughes
6. Aaron Chalmers
7. Danny Pilkington
8. Kristian Platt
9. Andy Owens
10. Danny Wilkins
11. Aidan Chippendale

A win for Celtic could raise us to sixteenth, whilst a loss would probably see us drop back into the bottom three. Even a draw could lift us three places.

There is a full schedule for Saturday. Other matches:
Alfreton Town v Harrogate Town
Bradford Park Avenue v Worcester City
Chorley v Brackley Town
Curzon Ashton v Tamworth
FC United of Manchester v AFC Fylde
Gainsborough Trinity v AFC Telford
Gloucester City v Altrincham
Kidderminster Harriers v Salford City
Nuneaton Town v Darlington
Stockport County v Boston United

Directions
Distance: 33
Time: 50 minutes