17-18 Season Review: The Ups And Downs From Last August

Vanarama National League

After a long summer break the Vanarama National League was back with a bang. August 5 finally arrived and as always, the opening day threw up plenty of thrills and spills to make the long wait worth it.

It wasn’t the welcome Leyton Orient wanted, going down 2-0 to Sutton United in the game of the first day and it gave some clues to how the two clubs’ season would play out.

Neither was it for Hartlepool, defeated 1-0 at home to Dover who had again been forced into a summer rebuild.

Few people were talking about Macclesfield Town but their 1-0 win at Wrexham got the ball rolling thanks to Noe Baba’s beauty.

People were talking about Aldershot in August, though. A good first day win over Halifax was followed up by a whitewash of Guiseley.

But perhaps the shock result of the season came in the first month. Leyton Orient, of course on the brink of the Championship a few years ago, were hit 6-1 at Bromley.

On the same mid-August night, Maidenhead’s Dave Tarpey scored four as they won 4-1 at AFC Fylde. It wouldn’t be long before the lethal striker was on his way to the Football League with Barnet.

Vanarama National League South

Excitement was high as August 5th finally arrived, especially for the newly-promoted teams in the Vanarama National League South - but it wasn't a month to remember for one of the country's longest serving managers ever.

The division welcomed back Havant & Waterlooville and Bognor Regis Town from the Bostick League and Chippenham Town were playing at the highest level in their history after promotion from the Southern League.

Coming down were Braintree Town, while Gloucester City were switched from the northern section.

Opening day drama saw Bognor triumph 3-2 at home against Bath City. Havant and Chippenham met at Hardenhuish Park and shared a goalless draw,Braintree beat Eastbourne Borough, while Gloucester were beaten 2-0 at fancied Chelmsford City.

As teams settled into the season, Hungerford Town suffered a massive blow when successful boss Bobby Wilkinson left, before being later named as the new manager of rivals Wealdstone to replace long-serving Gordon Bartlett.

Chelmsford ended the first month on top of the table and Whitehawk were looking for a new boss as Jimmy Dack resigns.

National League North

The start of the Vanarama National League North season began with plenty of goals on the opening day, as both Curzon Ashton and Southport gained 4-0 wins against North Ferriby United and Boston United respectively, writes Tom Feaheny.

After an opening day loss Salford City would end the month on a six-game unbeaten run, but it was Harrogate Town who went the whole of the first month without defeat with six wins and a draw from their opening seven games, that included a thrilling 4-5 victory at Gainsborough Trinity.

Another team who would have pleased with how they began the campaign were the recently relegated Southport who went on a six-game unbeaten run.

North Ferriby United would gain their first win of the season during this month but would then have to wait another five months before picking up their next three points.

With the first seven games of the season now gone, Chorley found themselves in the last relegation place, though things would get much better for the Magpies as the campaign progressed.