At the end of the season, we will bring you our Team of the Season for the National League, but with the season just ticking over halfway, we thought we would cast an eye towards who have been some of the standout performers so far in the league by putting together our Team of the Season ‘So Far’. A tough task of selecting only 11 players given so many standout displays this term, with a number of players feeling hard done by not to feature in this side, but here we go – here’s our 11.
GK – Ryan Boot (Solihull Moors)
There was perhaps an eyebrow raised in the summer when Ryan Boot was originally let leave the club following the end of last season, but with other clubs no doubt in the hunt for his services, Ardley acted swiftly to seal his return to the club and what a decision that has proven to be. The goalkeeper has been in fine form this term and has been key to their success so far, with 14 clean sheets in league and cup competitions, and has already picked up a divisional Player of the Month award too. An impressive return for Boot, and he has been the stand out keeper in the division.
RWB – Kane Smith (Boreham Wood)
We have recently one right-back depart the division to join an EFL outfit, and Wood player Kane Smith could well be one to join him in the not too distant future, perhaps more likely with Boreham Wood. Playing a wing-back system, Smith has certainly locked down the right-hand side, with his qualities going forward in being able to beat players and carry the ball up the pitch is key. For someone that is so good in an attacking sense, Smith is equally as strong in a defensive capacity, with his energy and athleticism key in being able to get back and help out a Wood side that have conceded only 13 times in the league. He has 3 goals and 2 assists to his name, and is very much the complete wing-back.
CB – Niall Maher (FC Halifax Town)
The Shaymen have been able to maintain a promotion push so far, and the leadership of Niall Maher at the heart of the defence has been a central driving force for that. He has played in every game in the league for Town this term, and has done well to contribute to a defence that has only conceded 18 goals in the league so far. His composure and poise in possession has been key for a Town side that like to play the ball out from the back, and especially during the earlier part has had to marshal a young Town backline. He provides Wild the ability to match up the system they play, and if they can sustain their push for the remainder of the campaign, Maher will be a leading light in that regard.
CB – Jamal Fyfield (Boreham Wood)
The second Wood player to get into this side, the towering defender has been superb for Luke Garrard’s side. Wood have the best defensive record in the league, and he has been a central component of that as they have conceded only 13 goals in the division, as well as shutting out higher-ranked AFC Wimbledon in the cup. Fyfield was an impressive performer last season, but this term his side are reaping the rewards of that, and Fyfield has been an integral part of those efforts. Commanding in the air making him a threat from set-pieces, and surprisingly comfortable on the ball, Fyfield has done well in absence of his usual partner Femi Ilesanmi, and he will be crucial if they can sustain their promotion push.
CB – Kyle Cameron (Notts County)
The first of two Notts players in this side, and Geordie defender Kyle Cameron gets into the side. It is no surprise that Ian Burchnall decided to throw the armband in his direction at the start of the campaign, and he has very much been the driving force behind a Magpies side founded on young, hungry players, with Cameron very much the catalyst of this. His ability to bring the ball out from defence is key in initiating what County do well, with his runs forward and ability to get round on the overlap past the wing-back key to them being able to create overloads going forward. He gets in despite conceding the most goals of any of the players in this side, but I think that he has been superb for The Magpies and very much encapsulates what Burchnall is trying to do.
LWB – Calvin Miller (Chesterfield)
Out of all the positions in this team, this was the one which I was most undecided about, but I have gone for Spireites defender Calvin Miller. Out of all the sides at the top, I don’t see the Chesterfield central defences being as aggressive going forward or in carrying out the ball, and so Miller’s qualities are key. Chesterfield have the 2nd-best defensive record in the division, and Miller has been an ever-present in the side on the left. His quality going forward is very much what Rowe sees most in the defender, with his ability to get up the pitch, provide an overlap and get good crosses into the box central to the way that he plays, and his recovery speed is strong too. A good season individually for a side that look on their way to promotion, and Miller has impressed.
CM – Joe Sbarra (Solihull Moors)
The permanent capture of Joe Sbarra last season was a fine bit of business by The Moors, and his form this season has most certainly vindicated that. In a Moors side that have not been the most free-flowing or attack-minded this term under Ardley, Sbarra’s end product in the final third has been key. He is the highest scoring midfielder in the division so far with 11 goals to his name, and his ball-carrying abilities are key in getting Moors up the pitch. His diminutive figure provides a nice antithesis to the more robust Moors midfielders, with his technical quality in possession, eye for a pass and his desire to get forward central to their game.
CM – Armani Little (Torquay United)
If you had asked Torquay United fans who would be the standout midfielder this term, then most Gulls fans would have pointed you in the direction of Connor Lemonheigh-Evans or Asa Hall, but the former Oxford man has excelled for The Yellows this term. He is the club’s leading scorer in the league, 10 goals to his name, and has scored some big goals in there too along the way, principally a double against Dover Athletic. He has been in for some criticism from a section of fans in the early part of the campaign, but has rode that well and in absence of Asa Hall, has stepped up well with the armband. He has been central to The Gulls’ attacking efforts, and he has certainly found his feet this term after a tricky, injury-hit campaign last season.
ST – Kabongo Tshimanga (Chesterfield)
Who else? James Rowe eluded to the fact that the signing of former Boreham Wood man Kabongo Tshimanga would be the difference in them being able to go one further on last season, and so far it has proven to be the case. Tshimanga has been in red hot form in front of goal, and is the leading scorer with 21 goals so far. He has proven as dangerous as ever in the box, and already has two hattricks to his name this term. There will no doubt be clubs swooping in the January window for his services, and keeping him is key.
ST – Kyle Wootton (Notts County)
Another player that has reportedly turned heads of a couple of sides in the EFL on the back of his form so far is Kyle Wootton. He has 12 goals to his name in the league, and for a side that have shown to be free-flowing and reliant on playing through teams, Wootton has provided a fine antithesis to that with his physicality and poise up front. Tahvon Campbell could have got a spot in this side in his place, but by way of The Cards forward having gone quiet recently in the league and Wootton having been a continual threat, I have gone for the Magpies forward.
ST – Michael Cheek (Bromley)
Where better to end than at Hayes Lane. Michael Cheek finished as the leading scorer in the division last season with 21 goals in the league, and he has once again been his dangerous self. Bromley are again in the mix for the play-offs, and the efforts of Cheek have been central to that with 15 of their 38 goals in the league as he currently sits as the division’s second-highest scorer. If The Ravens are to remain in the hunt for the play-offs come the end, the efforts of Cheek will be key, especially given that he has scored the opening goal for them more than any other player in the division, and Woodman’s side will need to keep the supply line into him fresh through the second-half of the campaign.
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