Newtown host Park Celtic Summerhill

Newtown Utd tackle Park Celtic Summerhill in a crucial NEFL Div 3 game on Sunday morning and JUSTIN BURKE gives his assessment for the 11.15am showdown.

What a huge game in store here, Newtown come into this match knowing only a win will secure the title after their opposition beat the league leaders Donacarney Celtic last week to blow it wide open again.

Don't be thinking that the boys from Agher and Summerhill will roll over as they know a win will leap frog them over Newtown giving them a second place finish and a possible promotion if the divisions are reshuffled for the new campaign. 

Newtown have been rock solid this season, conceding only seven league goals in eight matches with four goals coming in one match !!. Park Celtic have been very leaky at the back conceding twenty two goals from eight games played, but both sides have lost just once in the league with Newtown ahead by two points. 

Newtown will have a full squad available for this game on Sunday while their opponents will await news on Mark Donoghue who is carrying a knock. Last season both sides met twice with Newtown enjoying a comfortable 4-1 win at home , and Park Celtic overcame Newtown in Agher winning 4-3 so this tie will be very close. 

The home side's form coming into this game is good, considering the last time out was an away win at Robinstown 4-0, before that they travelled to newly promoted Parkvilla losing 3-2 in the Kilmessan Shield (they now Premier Division) and previous to them was a big 6-0 win at home to Kilmessan. 

Park Celtic Summerhill won their last four matches and will be full of confidence at the minute.

Last week's 3-2 away win at leaders Donacarney Celtic opened up the division.

Prior to that win was a huge 3-1 win at home to Moneymore who were also in the hunt for promotion and the Park Celtic Summerhill also picked up a big Kilmessan Shield win against Virginia winning 3-1. 

The main goal threats for Newtown will be their strikers James Farrelly and Daire Rowe, Farrelly has seven goals so far while Rowe has picked up nine goals in his last four matches. 

Alan Curran and Darren Clare have the ability to score from midfield so they will try their luck, but to date their defence is only doing one job and doing it very well. 

Park Celtic's strike force of Paul McInerny, John Farrell and Mark Donoghue has seen them all hit double figures in terms of goals scored this season and they will cause the best of teams problems. 

Ruairi Shortt in midfield can sneak the odd goal, but their in form goalscorer at the minute is captain/ player manager/ defender Brian Rispin who scored twice last time out. 

Key players for Newtown will be Owen Weldon and Michael Sweeney in defence, tough tackling midfielder Paul Smith and of course goal machine Daire Rowe. Park Celtic key players will be the front three and midfielders Cian Hussey and Ruairi Shortt. 

Speaking to Newtown manager John Weldon this week he said he expects his side to pick up a win at home as their home form has been their success this season, though he knows this will be a tough match against a form side. 

Park Celtic Summerhill joint-manager Mickey Corrigan said this week his side have won four games in-a-row, his dressing room is full of confidence and they will go out looking for the win and he knows his team face a good defence but expects to come out with the win. 

Prediction - very close match with both sides doing well at the minute. I'll sit on the fence and pinch for a draw, but hopefully loads of goals for highlights !!