Vanarama Make Their Team Of The Weekend Picks!

Every week, title sponsors Vanarama provide their Team of the Week and use this column to justify their selections.

Those postponements mean we’ve combined this week’s fixtures into a single XI but normal service will – hopefully! – resume in midweek.

Worthing made it back-to-back wins in Vanarama National League South as they triumphed 1-0 at Tonbridge Angels – thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Josh Jeffries.

The Southampton stopper joined on loan at the beginning of the month and was called into action three times at Longmead. Impressively, he attempted (59) and completed (46) more passes than any other keeper in the division.

Slough Town right-back Josh Jackman has made a habit of popping up with goals during his time with the Rebels and was twice on hand as Scott Davies’ side beat Maidstone United 2-1 to extend their unbeaten run at home to 15 matches.

No right-back in the South attempted more shots than Jackman or took more touches in the opposition’s box (3).

Dorking Wanderers picked up their first home Vanarama National League win since November 18 by beating Gateshead 1-0. Veteran centre-back Tony Craig was an immovable object, winning all six of his aerial duels and recording three interceptions.

After six without a win in all competitions, Weston-super-Mare claimed their first win of 2024, 2-1 at Havant & Waterlooville.

Centre-back Lloyd Humphries was the match-winner for the Gulls, slotting home with precision with just seven minutes remaining to clinch an invaluable three points.

It’s now four unbeaten for Boreham Wood who have put some welcome distance between themselves and the relegation zone following a 2-2 draw at promotion-chasing Bromley on Saturday.

Femi Ilesanmi starred for the Wood, picking up an assist for Kwesi Appiah’s late equaliser. The experienced defender completed all four of the dribbles he attempted – ranking second among National League centre-backs – while no one could match his nine successful attacking duels.

Tom Pugh recently extended his loan at Hereford until the end of the season and celebrated with a goal in the Bulls’ 2-2 draw against King’s Lynn Town.

No central midfielder in Vanarama National League North attempted more shots (4), more attacking duels (15) or had more penalty-area touches (15) than Pugh.

There can be no doubting how much Hartlepool United have missed Anthony Mancini. The 22-year-old scored his first goal since returning from injury as Pools finished Lennie Lawrence’s interim spell with a 1-0 win at Ebbsfleet United.

Former Sunderland and England striker Kevin Phillips was in situ at the Kuflink Stadium and ahead of taking over and will doubtless have been impressed by the Frenchman. Mancini won more defensive duels (9) than any other top-flight central midfielder while also contesting a league-leading 19 attacking duels.

Chester skipper George Glendon bagged his eighth of the season as the Seals beat Bishop’s Stortford 2-0.

Glendon was successful with more attacking duels (6) than anyone else in his position in the North. Only two players – including teammate Declan Weeks – recorded more forward passes than his 17.

Yeovil Town continue to set the pace in the South and eased past Hemel Hempstead Town 2-0 on Saturday with Sam Pearson bagging a brace.

Impressively, his double came from an expected goals value of just 0.55. No forward in the South – or North – could match his four shots, either.

JJ Hooper ensured Blyth Spartans extended their unbeaten run to six games for the first time in five years with a 1-0 win at Gloucester City.

Remarkably, Hooper recorded an expected goals (xG) value of just 0.09 from just two shots. In other words, those efforts had less than a tenth of a chance of going in. But as the old adage goes – the only number that matters is the score!

Kidderminster Harriers made the perfect start to life under new boss Phil Brown, beating Aldershot Town 4-2.

Harriers hadn’t scored more than twice in a National League fixture this season before Saturday but hit the goal trail thanks to joint top-scorer Amari Morgan-Smith.

He might have been outscored 2-1 by fellow forward Ashley Hemmings but it was his tireless work out of possession that caught the eye. No National division striker attempted (31) or won (23) more aerial duels while he ranked second for ball recoveries (6) and recoveries in the opponent’s half (5).

PHOTO BY PINNACLE