Matchday 5 of the 2025 National League season was a thrilling spectacle, with Carlisle United’s 5-0 rout of Braintree Town and Gateshead’s dramatic 4-3 comeback against Yeovil Town stealing the show. Packed with goals, late winners, and standout performances, the action has reshaped the early standings.
Here’s a stat-heavy roundup of the results, spotlighting the top five teams, the bottom four, and a wealth of stats for National League fans.
Matchday 5 Results and Key Moments
- Aldershot Town 4-0 Morecambe: Aldershot Town unleashed a second-half masterclass, with Jack Clarridge (52’), Ashley Taylor (59’), Josh Barrett (79’), and David Tetek (82’) securing a thumping win. Morecambe were outclassed, managing zero shots on target.
- Altrincham 2-0 Solihull Moors: Kyran Reddin (19’) and Lewis Weaver (79’) powered Altrincham to a clean-sheet victory, stifling Solihull Moors’ attack.
- Boreham Wood 2-1 Truro City: Tom White’s 27th-minute strike was canceled by Will Dean (34’), but Matt Rush’s 93rd-minute winner clinched the points for Boreham Wood.
- Boston United 2-1 Wealdstone: Lewis John-Lewis (48’) and Ged Sloggett (79’) sealed victory for Boston United, despite Michael Obiero’s 69th-minute reply for Wealdstone.
- Carlisle United 5-0 Braintree Town: Ryan Linney’s hat-trick (15’, 54’ pen, 65’), an own goal by George Langston (29’), and Jordan Ellis’ late goal (80’) obliterated Braintree Town.
- Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Eastleigh: Tom Knowles’ 94th-minute stunner snatched three points for Forest Green Rovers in a tense battle with Eastleigh.
- Rochdale 1-0 Sutton United: Ethan Dieseruvwe’s 50th-minute goal proved enough, as Rochdale’s defense repelled Sutton United’s late surge.
- Scunthorpe United 1-1 Halifax Town: Callum Roberts (52’) gave Scunthorpe the lead, but Dion Kawa’s quick reply (55’) earned Halifax a draw. Scunthorpe played with ten men after Ben Horton’s 40th-minute red card.
- Southend United 1-1 Hartlepool United: An own goal by Tom Parkes (2’) put Southend ahead, but Nathan Sheron’s 66th-minute equalizer secured a point for Hartlepool.
- Tamworth 1-1 Brackley Town: Haydn Sayer’s 9th-minute opener was matched by Matt Roberts (53’), resulting in a hard-fought draw.
- Woking 1-1 York City: Andrew Drewe (21’) gave Woking the lead, but Alex Newby’s 53rd-minute strike earned York City a point.
- Yeovil Town 3-4 Gateshead: Yeovil stormed to a 3-0 halftime lead via Josh Sims (17’), Junior Morias (29’), and Harvey Greenslade (41’). Gateshead fought back with goals from Kain Hurst (48’), Frank Nouble (58’), and Kofi Adom (73’, 98’), with Adom’s stoppage-time winner sparking wild celebrations.
National League Standings: Top 5 and Bottom 4
Here are the top five and bottom four teams after Matchday 5, with detailed stats to highlight their performances. Note:
- Forest Green Rovers (13 pts, 4W-1D-0L, GD +8)
- Goals Scored: 11 (Kyle McAllister 2, Tom Knowles 2, Christian Doidge 1, Nathan Haughton 1, Jonny Buyabu 1, Kyle Mitchell 1, Yacouba Bamba 1, Harry Whitwell 1, Jamie Moore-Taylor 1)
- Goals Conceded: 3 (clean sheets vs. Yeovil Town, Eastleigh)
- Top Performer: Tom Knowles (2 goals, 1 assist) sealed the clutch win vs. Eastleigh.
- Form: WDWWW (draw vs. Solihull Moors, wins vs. Halifax Town, Sutton United, Yeovil Town, Eastleigh)
- Key Stats:
- League-high 2.2 goals per game.
- One goal conceded in their last three matches.
- Two penalties scored by Kyle McAllister vs. Sutton United.
- Why They Lead: A lethal attack and rock-solid defense make them the early pace-setters.
- Rochdale (12 pts, 4W-0D-1L, GD +7)
- Goals Scored: 10 (Ethan Dieseruvwe 3, Connor McBride 2, Tarryn Allarakhia 1, Devante Rodney 1, Ethan Ebanks-Landell 1, own goals 2)
- Goals Conceded: 3 (clean sheets vs. Boreham Wood, Gateshead, Sutton United)
- Top Performer: Ethan Dieseruvwe (3 goals) has scored in three matches.
- Form: WWLWW (loss to Brackley Town, wins vs. Boreham Wood, Altrincham, Gateshead, Sutton United)
- Key Stats:
- Three clean sheets, tied for the most.
- Two own goals in their favor (vs. Altrincham, Gateshead).
- Assists from Sam Beckwith, Kairo Gordon, and Ryan East.
- Why They’re Strong: Ethan Dieseruvwe’s finishing and a stingy defence keep them in the hunt.
- Carlisle United (11 pts, 3W-2D-0L, GD +8)
- Goals Scored: 12 (Ryan Linney 5, Luke Armstrong 2, Georgie Kelly 1, Ethan Robson 1, Jordan Ellis 1, own goal 1)
- Goals Conceded: 4 (clean sheets vs. Woking, Braintree Town)
- Top Performer: Ryan Linney (5 goals) leads the league, with a hat-trick vs. Braintree Town.
- Form: WDDWW (wins vs. Woking, Braintree Town, draws vs. Boreham Wood, Solihull Moors)
- Key Stats:
- League-high 12 goals (2.4 per game).
- Ryan Linney’s five goals include one penalty.
- Assists from Luke Armstrong, Charlie Harper, Ethan Embleton, Georgie Kelly, Jordan Ellis.
- Why They’re Flying: Their attacking firepower, led by Linney, is unmatched.
- Hartlepool United (11 pts, 3W-2D-0L, GD +7)
- Goals Scored: 8 (Anthony Reid 2, Joe Francis 1, Connor John 1, Nathan Sheron 1, Ryan McNally 1, own goals 2)
- Goals Conceded: 1 (clean sheets vs. Yeovil Town, Braintree Town, Woking)
- Top Performer: Anthony Reid (2 goals, 1 pen) has been a key outlet.
- Form: DWWWD (draws vs. Yeovil Town, Southend United, wins vs. Braintree Town, Altrincham, Woking)
- Key Stats:
- League-best 0.2 goals conceded per game.
- Three clean sheets, tied for the most.
- Assists from Joe Miley and Michael Daly.
- Why They’re Unbeaten: A near-impenetrable defence anchors their strong start.
- Southend United (11 pts, 3W-2D-0L, GD +6)
- Goals Scored: 7 (Sam Austin 2, Charlie Kendall 2, Josh Walker 1, Gus Scott-Morriss 1, own goal 1)
- Goals Conceded: 1 (clean sheets vs. Gateshead, Tamworth, York City)
- Top Performer: Sam Austin (2 goals, 1 assist) drives their attack.
- Form: WWDDW (wins vs. Gateshead, Tamworth, Truro City, draws vs. York City, Hartlepool United)
- Key Stats:
- Tied for the best defensive record (0.2 goals conceded per game).
- Three clean sheets, matching Hartlepool.
- Assists from Nathan Ralph, Harry Boyes, Sam Austin.
- Why They’re Solid: A watertight defense and timely goals make them promotion contenders.
- Solihull Moors (3 pts, 0W-3D-2L, GD -6)
- Goals Scored: 4 (Oliver Rutherford 1, James Clarke 1, Sam Whyte-Hall 1, Dan Creaney 1)
- Goals Conceded: 10 (no clean sheets)
- Top Performer: Dan Creaney (1 goal) scored in their draw vs. Carlisle United.
- Form: DDLLL (draws vs. Forest Green Rovers, Carlisle United, loss to Altrincham)
- Key Stats:
- Daniel Lipsiuc’s red card (6th minute vs. Forest Green Rovers) hurt early momentum.
- Conceding 2 goals per game, among the league’s worst.
- Assists from Bradley Nicholson, Charlie Green, Ben Worman.
- Why They’re Struggling: Defensive errors and a lack of wins are holding them back.
- Sutton United (2 pts, 0W-2D-3L, GD -6)
- Goals Scored: 4 (David Ogbonna 1, Ben Njoku 2, Josh Taylor 1)
- Goals Conceded: 10 (no clean sheets)
- Top Performer: Ben Njoku (2 goals) is their main threat.
- Form: DDLLL (draws vs. York City, loss to Rochdale)
- Key Stats:
- Lewis Vincent’s red card (72nd minute vs. Scunthorpe United) cost them.
- Conceded 4 goals vs. Forest Green Rovers.
- Assist from Josh Taylor.
- Why They’re Down: Defensive lapses and an inability to secure wins are piling on pressure.
- Woking (1 pt, 0W-1D-4L, GD -8)
- Goals Scored: 3 (Jack Turner 1, Oliver Sanderson 1, Andrew Drewe 1)
- Goals Conceded: 11 (no clean sheets)
- Top Performer: Andrew Drewe (1 goal) scored in their draw vs. York City.
- Form: LLLLD (losses to Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United, Hartlepool United, draw vs. York City)
- Key Stats:
- Conceding 2.2 goals per game, one of the worst defenses.
- Scoring 0.6 goals per game, tied for the lowest.
- Assist from Max Ward.
- Why They’re Sinking: A leaky defense and blunt attack spell trouble.
- Truro City (0 pts, 0W-0D-5L, GD -8)
- Goals Scored: 1 (Will Dean 1)
- Goals Conceded: 9 (no clean sheets)
- Top Performer: Will Dean (1 goal) is their only scorer.
- Form: LLLLL (losses to York City, Tamworth, Boreham Wood, Southend United)
- Key Stats:
- League-worst 0.2 goals per game.
- Conceding 1.8 goals per game.
- No assists recorded, highlighting their lack of creativity.
- Why They’re Bottom: A toothless attack and shaky defense leave them pointless.
Additional Stats
- Leading Scorers: Ryan Linney (Carlisle United, 5 goals), Ethan Dieseruvwe (Rochdale, 3 goals), Luke Norris (Boreham Wood, 3 goals), Hady Ghandour (Aldershot Town, 3 goals).
- Assists Leaders: Sam Austin (Southend United, 2), Kyran Reddin (Altrincham, 2), Ollie Mussa (Wealdstone, 2), Charlie Roberts (Scunthorpe United, 2).
- Red Cards: Seven (Daniel Lipsiuc, Solihull Moors; Theo Widdrington, Aldershot Town; Ben Horton, Scunthorpe United; Will Harris, Halifax Town; George Langston, Braintree Town; Finley Terry, Braintree Town; Lewis Vincent, Sutton United).
- Clean Sheets: Hartlepool United, Southend United (3 each), Carlisle United, Rochdale (2 each).
- Highest Scoring Game: Yeovil Town 3-4 Gateshead (7 goals).
- Average Goals per Game (Matchday 5): 2.83 (34 goals across 12 matches).
- Most Goals in a Match: Ryan Linney (3 vs. Braintree Town).
- Team Trends: Aldershot Town (15 goals) and Carlisle United (12 goals) lead the scoring, while Truro City (1 goal) and Woking (3 goals) lag behind.
Looking Ahead
Forest Green Rovers top the National League with their dynamic attack, but Rochdale and Carlisle United, fueled by Ethan Dieseruvwe and Ryan Linney, are breathing down their necks.
Hartlepool United and Southend United’s ironclad defences make them tough to beat, while Gateshead’s comeback heroics signal their threat.
At the bottom, Solihull Moors, Sutton United, Woking, and Truro City face a steep climb, with Truro City’s pointless start sounding alarm bells. With goals galore and drama at every turn, Matchday 6 is set to ignite the fifth tier.
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