Match Preview :- Hyde United - Tuesday December 26th, 2006 (15:00:00)
Celtic have got a festive fixture list to make the mouth water. First up on Boxing Day (kick off 3pm) is the first of our derby games, away at Hyde United. This is followed on Saturday with a chance for revenge in another derby match when we host Droylsden (kick off 3pm), finishing with the reverse derby fixture on New Year?s Day when we host Hyde (kick off 3pm).

Starting with Hyde, who are right behind us in the table, two points adrift, having played a game more. They?ve hardly had the start to the season their assembled squad suggested, never getting higher than eleventh in the table and for the first couple of months skirting with the relegation zone. They did turn it around in October and pulled away from the drop zone, but with only three wins in the last ten games, they are back occupying the fourteenth spot.

They have beaten Harrogate Town at their place and Nuneaton Borough at home, but recently lost away at Leigh, and at home to Hucknall. Their last home match was a 1-1 draw with Scarborough, a result that lifted Scarborough off the bottom of the table. Their last match was in the FA Trophy when they travelled to Conference National side Halifax Town and lost 3-1, whereas Celtic travelled to Hinckley and beat them at the second attempt. Confidence, then, may well play a big part in the two matches with our neighbours from over the hill.

Hyde have scored in sixteen of their twenty one games this season (eight out of eleven away) with a home and away goals ratio of 1.4 (1.6 at home, and 1.3 away), whilst they have kept four clean sheets (one away) giving them a concession ratio of 1.6 overall (2.1 away, 1.0 at home). Their top scorer is Dale Johnson who has nine (seven at home), with Gareth Seddon hot on his heels with seven (two at home). Their most prolific time is around the hour mark when they have eight goals, though they are quick off the mark with five in the opening ten minutes, and also have six just before the whistle. Their most wobbly time is around the half hour mark (six conceded) and the hour mark (another six), and they have conceded a further six at the death.

Hyde have a few injury worries, and ex-Celt Craig Dootson hasn?t made an appearance for several games, with JP taking over the custodianship of the goals. There are still a number of ex-Celts in their last line up, with JP, Dave German, Earl Davis, Nathan Wharton, Steve Pickford and Paul Gedman all making appearances for both clubs.
1. JP Ndjebayi
2. Dave German
3. Paul Howarth
4. Earl Davis
5. Mike Taylor
6. Nathan Wharton
7. Steve Flitcroft
8. Steve Pickford
9. Nicky Clee
10. Gareth Seddon
11. Paul Gedman

The automated prediction algorithm has a 2-2 draw at Ewen Fields marked on its cards, with a 3-2 win at Bower Fold for the reverse fixture. That would be four points, but there is every chance given Celtic?s recent away form, that we can take all six. This would give Celtic some measure of revenge considering that the last two meetings between the two sides have seen Hyde win them both, once in the league, and once in the Ray Stanley Memorial Trophy. Prior to that, Celtic won fifteen of the last sixteen meetings, four times registering five or more goals.

Between the two Hyde games is another derby fixture when we entertain Droylsden on Saturday. Droylsden may currently be top of the league, but Hinckley are level on points, and four goals separate them. In addition, they are only seven points ahead of Celtic, though they have played a game less. Try as we might, it is difficult to forget the last meeting between these two sides early in the season when Droylsden thrashed us 6-1. Home results like this are what have propelled Droylsden to the top of the league. Their away form this season has not been so hot. They have won three games this season on the road at Farsley, Blyth and Lancaster. This is why the automated prediction algorithm suggests a 3-2 score line in Celtic?s favour despite the gulf in league positions.

Droylsden have in their ranks the league?s current top scorer, Terry Fearns who has fifteen goals this season, only three of which have been scored away from the Butcher?s Arms. Ex-Celts Chris Denham and Jody Banim are both trailing some way behind him on six apiece. On average, they score 1.8 goals per game away from home (2.4 overall) and are the league?s current hottest attack (Celtic are the third hottest with Lee Ellington the third best striker in the league four behind Fearns). Droylsden?s defence has been letting them down, with 1.8 goals per game conceded on the road (1.7 at home). They have scored in every single game that they have played this season, both home and away, but have kept just two clean sheets (both away). In their last three league games they have scored nine goals, won all three games and conceded five. Their last match was in the FA Trophy which they went out of courtesy of the National?s bottom club, Southport. It was a late goal from the Sandgrounders that dumped them out of the competition.

In their last league match, the 2-1 victory at home over Gainsborough, they lined up as:
1. Paul Phillips
2. Jimmy Williams
3. Danny Warner
4. Gary Burke
5. Carl Ruffer
6. Gareth Morris
7. Steve Jagielka
8. Kevin Lynch
9. Terry Fearns
10. Steve Daly
11. Jimmy Kelly
Droylsden have won just twice at Bower Fold in the past ten years, once to put us out of the Unibond Cup, and once in the league back in 2005. Their last visit here just over a year ago, saw Celtic record a 1-0 victory. Celtic will be hoping to capitalise on their recent good form to ensure another victory and close the gap on the league leaders.

If all three games go to form and follow the automated prediction algorithm, then the start of 2007 will be a sunny one for Celtic, as we will in all likelihood be in the play-off spots. There is a lot of work for the squad to do between now and then, though, and not one of these games will be anything other than very hard. We are now unbeaten in seven games, with four wins. Our last loss at home was against Farsley Celtic back in mid-November, and our last loss away was back in October when we lost at Kettering.

Our last match was the 2-1 victory over Hinckley in the Trophy, leaving us as the sole representative of Tameside in the FA Trophy. In that match we lined up as:
1. Paul Pettinger
2. Grant Black
3. Scott Maxfield
4. Barrie Keeling
5. Mark Hume
6. Ashley Winn
7. Steve Smith
8. Paul Sykes
9. Lee Ellington
10. Steve Brodie
11. Neil Prince
Prince has now scored three goals in two games; hopefully he can maintain that form and show Hyde what they let go. Other players looking to remind their former clubs are Steve Smith and Steve Brodie who played for Hyde and Droylsden respectively. There is no reason why Celtic cannot have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with the confidence in the camp at the moment. We need to beat Hyde first, and last, sandwiched with a sweet victory over Droylsden. Such a set of results will see us climb the table rapidly.
Directions
Distance: 5
Time: 10 minutes

Head down Mottram Road away from Bower Fold to the traffic lights at the t-junction with Acres Lane.
Turn left onto Acres Lane and follow it to the lights at the top of the hill near Morrisons.
Turn left onto Birch Lane, heading towards Hyde.
At the traffic lights with the Duke of Sussex pub on the left, go straight through.
At the next set of lights on Mottram Road, turn right.
Turn left onto Lumn Road at the next set of lights before reaching Morrisons, signposted for the leisure pool.
After approx.
200 yards you will come to a give-way sign, turn left onto Walker Lane, after approx.
50 yards you will see Hyde Leisure Pool on your left.
The entrance to Ewen Field is to the right hand side of the pool.