Gobowen and Morda set for cup clash with local pride at stake

A bumper gate is expected for the clash as the Shropshire border rivals go head to head for supremacy and a place in the next round of the competition.

The sides met in the league last month and shared the spoils at Weston Pools Park.

Another tight match is expected with Celtic this time having home advantage.

A Celtic spokesman said: “In what has been a disappointing season so far, we are looking forward to locking horns with our neighbours in the 1st round of the Premier Division Cup.

“We’ll be looking to replicate our league performance against them a couple of weeks back, where we came away with a well deserved draw.

“We have a few players unavailable due to injury and work commitments so we will have to be at our best to stand any chance of progressing.”

Celtic go into the game on a high after completing a remarkable second-half comeback to snatch a point in a 4-4 draw at Shrewsbury Up and Comers last week.

Having been 4-0 down the border club staged a stunning comeback and salvaged a point with the last kick of the game to go into the weekend with confidence high.

Action from Morda United's clash with Gobowen Celtic last month. Picture by Andrew Donnison.

Action from Morda United's draw with Gobowen Celtic. Picture by Andrew Donnison.

Meanwhile Morda make the short trip with a strong squad with manager Michael Barton conceding he had several selection headaches to solve before the weekend.

Jordan Gerrard, Tom Gale, Richard Chamberlain, Joe Evans, Louie Millington, Gaz Wilson, Kyle Wilson and Ollie Powell all return after missing last week’s win at Shawbury United Under 23s.

Barton said: “It will be a tough game, they will be up for it like they were a few weeks back when they gave us a very tough game.

“We have to make sure we are on it because if we aren’t then they have the players to beat us.”