The strength of the National League division, and the fight to claim that elusive top spot has never been greater, and this season the fancied clubs have started strong.
With Notts County, Wrexham and Chesterfield you have three massive clubs all competing for a return to the football league, whilst there is Solihull Moors just behind them, also looking promotion ready. After that, it's really anyone's guess, such is the competitiveness of this division.
Both Oldham Athletic and Scunthorpe United have had a tough introduction to life in non league, with the latter in particular finding it hard to adjust to this level, and the promoted sides from the National League North and South have all had moments already this season to suggest their stay isn't brief.
Current league table...
With an early glance towards the playoffs, it's impossible to call who will join those big clubs I mentioned earlier, as I'm fairly confident they'll all finish in the top seven. Barnet have made an impressive start, and will hope their loss at Aldershot at the weekend is a blip in their recent form. Boreham Wood are also looking good, and I'd probably plump for them to be in the mix at the end of the season. Other than that, you could make a case for anyone reaching them. That's what makes it so exciting. I'm going to come off the fence for a moment though, and share my prediction for the top seven when the season concludes....
Notts County
Wrexham
Chesterfield
Solihull Moors
Bromley
Boreham Wood
Southend United
I'm not going to share my thoughts on the bottom four though, for fear of upsetting anyone, and resume my place firmly back on the fence.
Looking at impressive individual performances, you have to pick Notts County forward, Macaulay Langstaff as the player of the first month, already netting nine times, and the Magpies recruitment of both him and Cedwyn Scott (both at Gateshead last season) looks to be just what they needed as they've hit the ground running at their new club. To be fair to Gateshead they've got both Paul Blackett and Adam Campbell both scoring goals and in amongst the early pace setters in the scoring charts.
So, who else features in the top scorers list, well, Langstaff leads the pack on nine goals already four ahead of Paul Mullin (Wrexham), Alex Reid (Solihull Moors) and James McShane (Dorking Wanderers). Seven more players have hit four goals each...
Action resumes in the National League this coming Saturday, with some more mouthwatering fixtures, will one of the top sides slip up, or someone in the bottom four start a climb up the table.... let us know your predictions:
Please, let me know your thoughts on this article, whether you agree or think I'm talking rubbish, it'll be good to here other opinions.
Next time, I'll be taking a look at the state of play in the National League North and South.
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