Three strikers have been setting the pace with their supreme scoring abilities in the National League Premier this season. Two are familiar faces who topped the scoring charts last season, while one was a surprising arrival at his club this summer, who hasn’t wasted any time making an impression. We take a look at the league’s sharpest shooters, duking it out as their teams battle for promotion.
Macauley Bonne – Leyton Orient
Image Source: @OrientOutlook via Twitter
Twice-capped Zimbabwe international Macauley Bonne has certainly shown his consistent sharpness, as the tip of the lance at Leyton Orient, banging in 16 goals to set the pace in the National League Premier scoring charts after the 24th November fixtures. Just to put that into some perspective, this is twice the amount William Hill top goalscorer betting favourite Sergio Aguero has scored in the Premier League with Manchester City, so far during the current campaign.
Last season Bonne struck 22 goals in 44 games, although even that wasn’t enough to help Leyton Orient beyond anything better than mid-table finish to their season, 13 points adrift of the promotion play-off zone. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old has once again been in stellar form this season, in a team that now looks to be genuine contenders for promotion this time around, keen to secure their return to the Football League as swiftly as possible.
Adam Rooney – Salford City
Image Source: @SalfordCityFC via Twitter
When Salford City announced the signing of Adam Rooney, the move raised more than a few eyebrows in the summer. After all, this is a striker who switched playing for Scottish Premier League title contenders, Aberdeen, for a side newly promoted to the fifth-tier of English football. Undoubtedly one of the highest earners in the division, the 30-year-old has produced a return of 15 goals in 21 appearances with The Ammies.
Such a return is precisely why Salford City, co-owned by the famous ‘Class of 92′ group of former Manchester United players and Singapore billionaire, Peter Lim, had no hesitations in splashing out on the Irishman. He has a proven track-record of scoring goals and given their aim of getting the club promoted again this season, his continuing to find the back of the net will be vital towards that dream becoming a reality.
Danny Rowe – AFC Fylde
Image Source: @NonLeaguePaper via Twitter
Local lad Danny Rowe is a fan-favourite at AFC Fylde, having played an important part in their rise over recent years, thanks to his exceptional scoring ability. According to soccerbase.com statistics he’s scored a phenomenal 125 goals in 70 league appearances since joining the club in 2014 and hasn’t slowed down, with 13 goals in 21 outings during the 2018-19 National League Premier campaign, at the time of writing.
Last season Rowe finished the 2017-18 campaign as the joint-top scorer with 24 goals, sharing the accolade with Andy Cook of promotion-winning Tranmere Rovers, as both they and AFC Fylde secured promotion play-off spots in the National League Premier. 28-year-old Rowe will surely play a huge part as The Coasters aim to push again for promotion this season, if the club can keep him beyond the January transfer window, with several Football League sides interested.
