STALYBRIDGE Celtic will look to end a winless run at Bower Fold that stretches back to the December 19 on Saturday when Brackley Town are the visitors (KO 15:00).
Liam Watson’s men have been slowly descending down the table in recent weeks and now find themselves in 17th position, just four points above the dreaded dotted line. A home match with Brackley Town, who sit two places below Celtic, provides the perfect chance for the hosts to end their wretched poor home form and take a big stride away from the bottom three. Were the Northamptonshire side to leave Greater Manchester with a win however, then Celtic could find themselves as low as 19th and looking precariously over the shoulders.
Kevin Wilkin’s Brackley have won their last two on their travels and they were huge wins against relegation zone occupants Hednesford Town and Lowestoft Town. They’ll be looking for three away successes on the bounce at Bower Fold.
The reverse fixture was played in mid-November and it was Liam Watson’s troops who made the long trip back up the M6 with the three points thanks to a win by the odd goal in five. Adam Farrell gave Celtic the lead in the opening ten minutes and though the Saints went in-front after goals from David Moyo and Steve Diggin, Jack Higgins was able to equalise for Celtic before the now departed Bohan Dixon netted what proved to be the winning goal.
Team News
Stalybridge may be sweating on the fitness of midfielder Charlie Joyce for this weekend. The on-loan Southport man limped off during Celtic’s bruising 1-0 loss at North Ferriby United last weekend whilst Brackley will be hoping talismanic striker Steve Diggin will be available after totally missing last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bradford Park Avenue. The popular Diggin is the fifth top scorer in the division with fourteen goals and Celtic would welcome his absence once again.
Provisional squads
Stalybridge: McMillian (GK), Wylie, Wisdom, Shaw, Higgins, Chalmers, Joyce, Wright, Simm, Farrell, Chippendale, Crowley, McKenna, Burns, Johnson, Hughes
Brackley: Hornby (GK), English, McDonald, Clarke, Graham, Austin, Cameron, Lowe, Ndlovu, Moyo, Walker, Mills, Winters, Morley, Slade, Odhiambo
By Jordan Davies
@jordandavies09
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