Vanarama Make Their Team Of The Weekend Picks!

The Iron’s win means leaders Barnet are now five points clear of FGR in third – albeit Steve Cotterill’s side have a game in hand.

It was a significant win for the Essex outfit, too, who are up to 18th, five points clear of the drop zone.

There was also a much-needed win for new Wealdstone boss Neil Gibson, 2-1 at Yeovil Town.

Each week, title sponsors Vanarama provide their Team of the Week for the three divisions and use this column to justify their selections...

Vanarama National League

Altrincham moved quickly to find a deputy for Ethan Ross following his season-ending ACL injury and look to have struck gold in Norwich City loanee Caleb Ansen. His eight saves in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Gateshead were the second most by a National League keeper on Matchday 32.

After impressing on loan at Hampton & Richmond, Jack Taylor has handled the step up to the National League with ease. Sutton United’s 19-year-old defender won 11/13 defensive duels in the goalless draw at Oldham Athletic on Saturday – the third most of any centre-back on the day.

It’s consecutive clean sheets for Maidenhead United who claimed a valuable 0-0 against Hartlepool United. Kevin Lokko successfully completed 19/23 defensive actions – ranking third among all centre halves – while recording 12 interceptions, fourth in his position.

Rochdale claimed a credible point at Southend United by drawing 1-1 at Roots Hall. Kyron Gordon was successful in six of his eight defensive actions, won five of eight defensive duels and all three of the loose ball duels he attempted.

We’ve squeeze Josh Grant in at left-back even though he played at centre-half in Wealdstone’s priceless 2-1 win at Yeovil Town – their first under new boss Neil Gibson.

Grant succeeded in 14/16 defensive actions while recording 11 interceptions – sixth among all centre-backs. He also found a teammate with 46/56 passes for the Stones. Twenty of those went forward accurately.

FC Halifax Town have won five of their last seven after eking out a 1-0 win over Boston United at The Shay. Scott High completed 55 passes for the Shaymen, which puts him third among all central midfielders on MD32. Fifteen of those went forward (ranking 9th) and he also supplied two shot assists (3rd).

Tom Blackwell was on target as Braintree Town upset Forest Green 2-0. He attempted more shots (4), progressive runs (5), completed more dribbles (6), attempted more crosses and won more attacking duels (7) than any other winger on Saturday.

It’s just two defeats in their last six home games for AFC Fylde after Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. Burnley loanee Will Hugill was the hosts’ hero, equalising in the 70th minute to keep the Coasters in touch with safety.

Tyrese Shade was on target as Eastleigh beat Aldershot Town 2-0. No striker attempted (7) or completed (5) more dribbles on Saturday than Shade who takes his tally for the season to seven. Six of those have come since November 9.

Ollie Pearce gave the Vanarama a one-game reprieve before normal service resumed with a brace for York City following his suspension. He took six penalty-area touches to put him second among all strikers and received 19 passes (2nd). His expected goals (xG) value of 1.03 was 1st for his position.

Lee Ndlovu was Barnet’s match-winning super sub, coming off the bench to score twice against an obdurate Solihull Moors side. Those goals came from two penalty-area touches, just two shots and an xG value of 0.79 – only good enough to rank third among National League strikers on MD32.

Vanarama National League North

It’s just one defeat in 14 in Vanarama National League North for Chester who brushed aside Rushall Olympic 4-0 to remain a point clear of Scunthorpe United at the summit.

The Cestrians might have lost Charlie Caton to the EFL in January, but striker Tom Peers is doing his best to pick up the goalscoring slack, bagging a brace to reach 12 for the season.

It took Needham Market until November 26 to record their fourth League win of the season. They’ve secured as many in their last seven games to reignite their season.

Saturday’s 4-0 win over Oxford City made it 10 goals in three games with Jacob Lay scoring one and making another. He completed three of five dribbles and two of three crosses. No winger attempted more defensive duels than Lay’s 13!

Leamington secured their third straight win – something they hadn’t done all season until now – with a 3-0 win over Farsley Celtic.

Midfielder Ewan Williams bagged a brace for the Brakes. No midfielder attempted more shots (3) and or enjoyed more penalty-area touches than the 21-year-old's five.

Vanarama National League South

There’s hot, and then there’s Kwesi Appiah. The Boreham Wood striker has bagged 11 goals in 10 games since Boxing Day and struck twice in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Eastbourne Borough to reach 23 for the season.

Only Darren McQueen (5) attempted more shots than Appiah (4) and the Hornchurch hitman was the only striker ahead of the 34-year-old for penalty-area touches with nine to Appiah’s seven.

The former Ghana international came out on top among all forwards in the South for defensive actions (7), interceptions (5) and loose ball duels won (5).

Sam Youngs’ place in Team of the Week is on lock currently. The Enfield Town midfielder is in frankly absurd form for the Towners who stretched their win streak to four with a 3-1 triumph at Chesham United.

The 33-year-old midfielder bagged a brace to hit15 for the season. Seven of those have come in his last six games for the North London outfit, who are now out of the bottom four.

Another side determined to beat the drop are St. Albans City. It’s now seven unbeaten – five draws – after Saturday’s crucial 1-0 win at Bath City.

Recent signing Brandon Mason caught the eye at Twerton Park. No left-back attempted more dribbles (7) while he was second for completions (6). The former Watford man also led the way for progressive runs (6) and attacking duels attempted (15).

PHOTO BY GRAHAM SCAMBLER