By Gateshead midfielder Russell Penn
At the right end of the table Gary Waddock and his Aldershot side are definitely one of my favourites for the league this season. Gary has won this league before in his first spell with the Shots and had a successful season last term just missing out in the play-offs to Tranmere Rovers.
Having kept the nucleus of his squad and adding quality like James Rowe from Cheltenham and Will de Havilland from Wycombe, I'm sure they will be right up there once again.
A big mention must also go out to Paul Doswell and his Sutton United side. Four wins in their opening five games given their fixtures – Leyton Orient, Tranmere, Eastleigh – is a fantastic start. Fair play to them.
I do think 3G is a big advantage for them, as well as Maidstone and Bromley. It gives opposition players an excuse. It's definitely a mind over matter situation playing there. Footballers moan. I'm one of them – if there's an excuse a footballer will use it. ‘Yeah, well, we played on 3G today. It wasn't good for my knees'. And that's when they've got nothing wrong with their knees!
Corey Whitely looks like he's in for another productive season. The former Enfield Town forward is definitely repaying the faith Dagenham & Redbridge gaffer John Still has shown in him with five goals from his opening five games.
Another talisman is newcomer Dave Tarpey who smashed every record in the National League South last term with Maidenhead. He has definitely continued where he left off with seven goals in his first five games – including four at Fylde. No wonder there are rumours clubs are after him.
Player Watch – Joe Ward (Woking/Midfield)
HAVING played six games myself over a 21-day period it's been a pretty relentless start to a tough season.
However, a player that caught my eye was a young lad called Joe Ward, right, who's at Woking.
He had a very impressive debut against Gateshead on the opening game of the season and looks the real deal.
Joe plays on the left or right of midfield and is very attack minded, scoring the second goal in the 2-1 victory over us.
Result of the Month – BROMLEY v Leyton Orient
LEYTON Orient fans won't like what they read but the result of the month goes to Bromley with their 6-1 victory over the O's.
They took a great following of over 1,000 fans to the newly 3G surfaced Hayes Lane and they will be hoping their start of the season isn't the beginning of things to come.
Gateshead could create a good fan base IF . They found a new home. A prober football ground the AND NOT A SPORTS STADIUM RUNNING TRACK. Look at South Shields and Blyth both get better gates. Why because the fans feel part of the club not out outcasts in an vast wilderness. Complete lack of togetherness.