Vanarama Make Their Team Of The Weekend Picks!

After what’s felt like an interminable wait, proper football finally returned this weekend as the fifth and sixth tiers of English football got underway.

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

Boundary Park was not a happy hunting ground for Oldham Athletic last season. The Latics hadn’t won on home turf since February 13 but saw off newly promoted Braintree Town 3-0 on Saturday with goalkeeper Mathew Hudson ranking third in the National League for saves.

Eastleigh finished last season in good nick and carried that into the new campaign with a 2-0 win at Maidenhead United.

Ludwig Francillette ranked fifth among all centre-backs on Matchday 1 by completing 12 of his13 defensive actions. He also recorded eight interceptions – sitting fourth among his defensive peers.

FC Halifax Town arguably pulled off the shock of the weekend, beating Dean Brennan’s highly fancied Barnet 2-1 at The Shay. Debutant Adam Alimi Adetoro caught the eye for Chris Millington’s side, succeeding with nine of 10 defensive actions.

National League North champions Tamworth showed they won’t be pushovers this season, picking up a 1-1 draw against relegated Sutton United. Luke Fairlamb attempted (18) more defensive actions than any other left-back in the division and was successful in 15 (2nd). He also ranked second for interceptions (10).

Gateshead are the early leaders after a 5-1 demolition of Ebbsfleet United. Skipper Greg Olley is already halfway to last season’s tally of six league goals after a 14-minute hat-trick! Those goals came from four just shots and six penalty area touches.

Debutant Jack Hunter was Hartlepool United’s match winner making their 670-mile round trip to Yeovil Town worthwhile. Yet it was his defensive work that was most impressive, winning four of eight defensive duels – ranking eighth among all central midfielders.

Dion Pereira scored one and made the other as Dagenham & Redbridge beat Wealdstone 2-1 on the opening day. The Luton Town loanee is back for another spell at Victoria Road and set the bar high, trying more shots (6) than any other winger.

He also led the way for completed dribbles (4), progressive runs (5) and touches in the opposition’s box (6).

No Tolaj or Stokes for Aldershot Town? No problem. Step forward Hady Ghandour! The striker staked his claim to become the Shots’ main man with a brace in Saturday’s topsy-turvy 3-3 draw with relegated Forest Green Rovers.

His seven penalty area touches were more than any other striker while the 24-year-old also led the way for successful attacking duels with five.

Joining Ghandour in attack is another two-goal hero: Rochdale’s Devante Rodney. The Dale hitman’s xG total was just 0.45 but his finishing lifted that to a post-shot xG value of 1.44. Nobody could top that!

Vanarama National League North

Farsley Celtic defender Rudy Misambo was a Team of the Week regular last season – and it looks like he will be again! He was successful in 16 of 18 defensive actions and recorded 10 interceptions, more than any centre-back in National League North.

The Andy Butler era at Scunthorpe United got off to the best-possible start, winning 3-0 last season’s beaten Promotion Finalists, Brackley Town.

Midfielder Alfie Beestin bagged a brace for the Iron but impressed with his all-round work rate. No midfielder in the North completed more ball recovered in the opposition’s half that his three, also chalking up a pair of interceptions.

Gold Omotayo is back home at King’s Lynn Town and gave an immediate reminder of why the Linnets re-signed him with a double in their 3-1 win over Warrington Town.

The Swiss striker spent last season with AFC Fylde and Kidderminster Harriers, but it looked like he’d never been away. No striker recorded a higher xG value than his 2.5, while also winning more aerial duels (8) than anyone else.

Vanarama National League South

Boreham Wood’s new era is up-and-running thanks to a 1-0 win over Bath City.

Ross Jenkins favours a possession-based style and Chris Bush embodied that, completing 67/79 passes on Saturday – third in the South and behind only teammates Charlie O’Connell and Josh Hare!

He might be 37 but Farnborough attacker Ricky Holmes is only getting better with age. He scored both as the Boro won 2-1 at Chippenham Town to make the perfect start.

The former Sheffield United and Portsmouth man put in a defensive shift, too, recording a league-high seven interceptions for his position and a 100% success rate for defensive actions.

Danny Cashman was just one of several key players for Worthing who had to share the limelight with 40-goal Ollie Pearce last season – now he is the main man in his own right.

A brace in the dramatic 4-3 win over Weston-super-Mare – including a 95th-minute winner – ensured as much. No attacking midfielder could beat his 37 passes received or 11 successful attacking duels.