On Saturday, it’s a long trip down to Shropshire to face Shifnal Town. Shifnal are eleventh in the table, one place and one point below Celtic. Kick-off is 3pm.

Shifnal’s start to the season was spectacular, shooting to top the table in the first four games, three of which were away and beating Stafford 4-0 away. A little wobble over the next three, losing to Clitheroe, Chasetown and Wythenshawe, but soon back on track with only one loss and four wins in the next five games, leaving them comfortable in the top five. However, in the last six games, one point picked up at home to Hanley has seen them fall into the bottom half of the table, losing their last three.

Over the last six, their goal difference took a massive hit, conceding fifteen goals. Prior to that, the Shifnal defence looked unbeatable, with five clean sheets, almost the same as Bootle. Now, they have conceded the second most home goals in the league, with twenty-three, still someway behind Lichfield’s thirty-one. Including away games, they have the fifth worst defence now. Their goal difference after four games was eleven, it’s now -7. Andre Landel has scored a quarter of all their goals so far this season, with seven, and on average, Shifnal score 1.67 goals at home (1.5 overall) and concede 2.6 goals at home (1.9 overall).

We’ve only ever met Shifnal twice, both times in the league last season, the last meeting a 2-2 draw at Bower Fold with Jordan Butterworth and Mike Koral giving Celtic the lead, in a game where Shifnal’s goal lived a charmed life. Our last visit to Shifnal ended 1-0 to Shifnal, a game needing a wonder-strike from Lewis Kane to break the deadlock.

In Shifnal’s last game, the 2-0 away defeat to Prescot, Shifnal lined up as:
1. Andrew Wycherley
2. Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen
3. Luke Edwards
4. Jake Bennet
5. Ben Kaninda
6. Kyle Bennett
7. Calum Wilson
8. Lewis Jarman
9. Zidan Sutherland
10. Kykle Edwards
11. Zeli Ismail

In Celtic’s last league match, the 3-1 away win over Vauxhall, Celtic lined up as:
1. Charlie Monks
2. Cam Fogerty
3. Harvey Brookes
4. Macauley Wilson
5. Kielan Hatfield
6. Andy Scarisbrick
7. Rohan Butler
8. Liam Tongue
9. Ruben Jerome
10. Declan McLoughlin
11. Lewis Rawsthorn

Wilson and Hatfield were unavailable against Macclesfield, but both will be back for Shifnal. Brookes took a knock, but nothing serious just not worth risking in the Cheshire Senior Cup, and should also be available. Mike Koral also came through most of the game against Macclesfield, and again should be available. Giving Dave Jones a further selection headache, Joel Sutton and Saul Gardener had excellent games against Macclesfield.