NCM League Two Awards

Last updated : 10 June 2007 By Gary Moss

League Two player of the year: Izale McLeod (MK Dons)


The League Two PFA Player of the year is also NCM's main man. The Dons hitman bagged an impressive 21 league goals but unfortunately still saw his side miss out on promotion after play-off defeat to Shrewsbury Town.

McLeod...NCM's main man

The 22-year-old has got it all; power, pace and most of all goals. He is good in the air and isn't afraid to beat his man. If McLeod stays with the Dons next season, he will be one of the division's assets again.

League Two young player of the year: Lee Frecklington (Lincoln City)


You will probably struggle to find such a young player as influential to a team as Frecklington is for Lincoln.

The 20-year-old Lincoln born midfielder has had fine season contributing with ten goals and really making the Imps tick. Frecklington shouldn't be in League Two too much longer as his bags of talent have already attracted the eye of top clubs.


League Two Goalkeeper of year: Dimitrios Konstontopalous (Hartlepool United)


Walsall
's Clayton Ince and Bristol Rovers Steve Phillips may be disappointed to miss out in this award, but the Pool stopper Konstontopalous has been instrumental to their automatic promotion.

He kept an incredible 25 clean sheets providing the back bone to Danny Wilson's successful first season in charge.

His fine displays have earned him a prestigious move to Coventry City.

League Two Defender of year: Chris Westwood (Walsall)


The stand out defender in the league by a fair way. Their were a whole host of solid defenders in League Two last year but none are quite the finished article like Westwood.

Rather than test his ability in League One, the experienced 30-year-old is staying put with Posh for next term.

League Two Midfielder of year: Dean Keates (Walsall)


Champion winning midfielder Dean Keates was the Saddlers engine room this season.

Keates...Saddlers engine room
The box to box middle man netted thirteen times and created numerous more in a fine season as he established himself as the most sought after League Two player. He will too be at Peterborough next season looking to win back to back division three titles.


League Two Forward of year: Izale McLeod (MK Dons)


What more can you say, despite serving three red card bans, he still netted 21 times and will feel aggrieved his goals didn't fire Milton Keynes back up the football league.

He received great service all year and really made the most of it.


The 'one who got away' (a player who left league two): Kevin Betsy
(Wycombe/ Bristol City)


Wycombe never ever recovered from losing right sided man Betsy. His pace and trickery was sorely missed by the Chariboys as they plummeted to a final finish of twelfth place.

The winger will be in the second tier next year and he won't be out of his depth.

League Two Manager of the year: Paul Trollope (Bristol Rovers)


Trollope master-minded Pirates play-off win as well as a Johnstone Paint Trophy Final at the expense of their bitter local rivals, now Championship outfit Bristol City.

Trollope...master-minded Pirates play-off win

Their season really kicked off after Christmas as they rapidly became one of the league's major players.


The Representative award (a player who represented League Two well): Jermaine Easter (Wycombe)


Scoring in each round of the Carling Cup helped Wycombe reach the semi-finals of the competition where they enjoyed a two legged battle with Premiership giants Chelsea.

His goals helped the Chairboy's to beat off Fulham and Charlton on route to their cup dream.


The 'free fall' award (the team that faded): Chester City


Just two wins in the last twenty league outings and new chief Bobby Williamson is left to try and salvage something from their collapse.


The most improved team: Rochdale


At Christmas they were tipped for relegation but somehow finished the season ninth, on the fringes of the play-off's.

Dagnall and Murray linked up well up top to totally transfer their campaign.


The under achievers: Peterborough United


For all their money and big names, Posh will be disappointed to only muster up an eleventh placed finish,

With Keith Alexander at the helm at the start of the season, fans were promised success but it never quite materialised. Alexander was given the boot and young boss Darren Ferguson handed the gauntlet.


The over achievers: Stockport County


With so many sides failing to deliver, the Hatters were pushed into a play-off fight somewhat un-prepared.

With the likes of Peterborough, Wycombe, Darlington and Notts all falling short, Stockport all of a sudden climbed the table.

A run of nine straight clean sheet wins put them amongst the elite but in honesty they should never have been there. They were a mid-table side at

Ince...Performed miracles at Moss Rose
most this year, but a valuable experience.


The 'what if' award: Macclesfield Town


Without Paul Ince, they'd be playing Conference football next year, end of.

The former England player performed miracles at Moss Rose to hoist them out of relegation trouble.


The 'nothing' award (the team who offer nothing to the division): Hereford United


Mid-table mediocrity marred the Bulls season.

Failing to score in each of their final ten league games hardly made them a squad to be feared. Hard to beat and far from glamorous.


The entertainer's award: Hartlepool United


Goals, goals and goals. Barker and Monkhouse helped provide goals galore for Hartlepool.

They scored 65 goals as they racked up their 88 promotion winning points.

They keep the ball on the floor and are good value for money at this level.


The Fortress award (best home side): Walsall


Walsall
rarely produced fireworks but they had a knack of grinding out results, none more than at the Bescot Stadium.

Only three defeats, it wasn't a happy hunting ground for many traveling sides.

The Raiders (best away side): Hartlepool United


Just six defeats on their travels all season, Wilson's men rarely came home empty handed. Their confidence to come out and attack teams made them difficult to play to host to.


Moss' League Two team of the year


A team based on a handful of individual stand out performances rather than the season as a whole. The players included may have had a few great games, have potential or just made a big contribution their team rather than being the best players in the league.


Formation 3-4-3


Steve Phillips (Bristol Rovers)


Jerel Ifil (Swindon Town)

Ismail Yakubu (Barnet)

Mike Edwards (Notts County)


Jason Puncheon (Barnet)

Danny Williams (Wrexham)

Lee Frecklington (Lincoln City)

Andy Monkhouse (Hartlepool United)


Izale McLeod (MK Dons)

Jermaine Easter (Wycombe)

Richie Barker (Hartlepool United)


Subs:


Clayton Ince (Walsall)

Dave Artell (Chester City)

Dean Keates (Walsall)

Sammy Igoe (Bristol Rovers)

Richard Walker (Bristol Rovers)


Manager: Paul Trollope (Bristol Rovers)