The second month of the season is now completed, and I now have a clearer picture as to how my local non-league teams are faring this season. The end of the month was somewhat spoiled by the farcical petrol station crisis, and I sincerely hope that October is not affected, the last two seasons were badly disrupted so we don't want to see it again.
Bury Town
League Games Played: 6
Total Points: 10
Points in September: 7
League Form (last 3): WDW - Excellent
Position: 9th out of 20 (Isthmian North - Step 4)
Average Home League Game Attendance: 407
Top Scorers: Cemal Ramadan (4), Jake Chambers-Shaw (3)
After a poor start, Bury have somewhat turned around their form, securing a couple of wins to see them climb the table, and be within touching distance of the promotion places. It has to be said that the performances of last season are still not there, and the turnaround in form can be somewhat attributed to the 3 temporary Ipswich Town loanees, so I hope that their loans can either be extended, or that Bury can pick up their performances up once they're gone. Next month will be important if they are serious on promotion, Bury cannot afford to lose touch with the front runners, even at these early stages.
Thetford Town
League Games Played: 11
Total Points: 13
Points in September: 9
League Form (last 3): WWW - Excellent
Position: 10th out of 20 (TNL Prem - Step 5)
Average Home League Game Attendance: 98
Top Scorers: Elliot Smith (6), Ryan Fuller (4), Joao Varela (3), Artur Visocanskis (3)
September has been a busy month for Thetford, that started off with three losses, as well as losing two key players in Luke and Ross Bailey. However, Town have put this behind them to string together 4 excellent wins, if you include the FA Vase victory, beating Hadleigh United, Haverhill Rovers and Brantham Athletic, to propel themselves up the table to 10th place. The performances have always been there, and it is great to see that they are putting their chances away, from players all over the team, including an unlikely source in Elliot Smith, who is playing further up the pitch and as has bagged 6 goals so far this season. However, it has to be said that the table is very close, Town are only 6 points above the relegation, and have played more games than many of their peers, so they will have to maintain the performance level that they are currently at to keep them above the drop zone. October is another month packed full of fixtures and I am hoping that Town can continue their excellent run of form. Another string of results could put a cushion behind them.
Lakenheath
League Games Played: 11
Total Points: 13
Points in September: 8
League Form (last 3): WDW - Excellent
Position: 9th out of 20 (TNL Prem - Step 5)
Average Home League Game Attendance: 90
Top Scorers: Shaun Avis (8), Tom Thulborn (7), Brandon Morris (4)
Lakenheath have been growing into the new league, and in September they secured a host of important victories to see them reach a mid-table position, the highlight of which being a 6-0 demolition of front running Newmarket Town away from home. Lakenheath have an excellent strike force in Avis, Thulborn and Morris, and have bolstered the midfield with recent signings Tom Walters & Ross Bailey (although Tom Walters has now left for Mildenhall Town) and a lot of injured players are now back to full fitness. The ground is being endlessly renovated and expanded, so things look good at The Nest at the moment. If they continue, a mid-table finish as a minimum should be achievable, and I think they will get stronger as the season progresses. However, as with Thetford, the table is close, so they do still have to watch their backs.
Diss Town
League Games Played: 9
Total Points: 13
Points in September: 4
League Form (last 3): DWL - Average
Position: 7th out of 16 (TNL D1 North - Step 6)
Average Home League Game Attendance: 100
Top Scorers: Ryan Gibbs (8), James Bemrose (7)
With all the management changes, Diss Town are still spluttering along, unable to put any real form and results together. However, they are still within touching distance of the play-off and promotion places, and with a strike force of Gibbs and Bemrose, they always have a chance of turning around their fortunes, it is still early days.
Mundford
League Games Played: 8
Total Points: 7
Points in September: 3
League Form (last 3): WLL - Average
Position: 14th out of 16 (Anglian Comb Prem - Step 7)
Top Scorers: Oli Standley (5), Jim Walters (3)
Mundford are having a bit of a shocker of a season, as previously discussed, it is essentially an entirely new team. In September they were beaten 7-1 at home by Beccles Town and fell to the bottom team, Thorpe St Andrew, also at home. However, in the last game, they beat high flying Yelverton 6-3 to give them a glimmer of hope to help them turn their season around.
Brandon Town
League Games Played: 6
Total Points: 10
Points in September: 3
League Form (last 3): WLW - Good
Position: 7th out of 16 (Anglian Comb D1 - Step 8)
Top Scorers: Kieran Bruce (3), Robbie Hunter (3), Ryan Billmen (2), James Buckmaster (2)
Brandon Town have had a poor set of fixtures, with games coming sporadically, as such, they have been unable to get into a good rhythm. Nevertheless, they are in good form, have been winning most games, goals have come from all over the team, and they have some games in hand, which keeps them within touching distance of the top teams. Brandon have been lacking a prolific goal scorer, and with Jack Slater returning from Lakenheath, they could have the man to provide the focal point and improve the team even further, making them a big threat.
Thetford Rovers
League Games Played: 7
Total Points: 14
Points in September: 9
League Form (last 3): WWW - Excellent
Position: 6th out of 16 (Anglian Comb D1 - Step 8)
Top Scorers: Valter Rocha (7), Claudinei Briviglieiri (6), James Dean (4)
Bruno Tavares has been working hard at Rovers, signing a lot of players and building a strong squad, most notably signing Valter Rocha from Norwich CBS. From their poor start, Rovers have shot up the table, and with a game in hand, they could break into the top 2 with a win. The new signings, most notably Rocha and Junior (Briviglieiri) have been banging in the goals, and they look to be a real threat to the league. Will be interesting to see how they perform against the top teams, having already dispatched Sprowston.
Stanton
League Games Played: 5
Total Points: 10
Points in September: 6
League Form (last 3): LWW - Good
Position: 3rd out of 11 (SIL D1 - Step 8)
Top Scorers: Karl Tarpley (6), Cordell Jackson (2), Connor Mantle (2)
With Southwold Town bowing out of the league, Stanton were docked three hard earned points, and they also lost their away game against rivals Sporting 87 to see them drop off the top spot. Nevertheless, it remains an impressive start to the season, and I hope Stanton can quickly put the disappointing defeat behind them and keep playing the attacking brand of football that has been so successful so far this season.
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