Is completely wide open, there's no team setting the pace, non have more than 5 wins so far, and 10 teams are separated by a single point in the middle of the table.

Perm any two from 20 sides.

Also can someone explain to me why in the National League table the teams in 6th and 7th are highlighted too?

The points distribution is very tight. The top team is there averaging less than 2 points per game. I know it's early days, but I reckon it's an indicator of a close league for some time yet.

In his Poolsworld interview, Scott Loach said the match balls are different in this league - anybody know what it is?

I would imagine the league would stretch out as the season progresses, but it looks tight at the moment. A mate who is a York fan , said this league and basically all the senior non leagues are like this. You can beat a good full time side on Saturday, then lose to a glorified pub team on Tuesday, it was a shock to York, its been a shock to us, and it was a shock to Orient yesterday at Borehamwood, were they probably had 90% of the gate. Think the glut of games, different styles, physicality and 3G pitches all add to the chaos, with teams having to change style/formations practically on a game to game basis rather than the continuity you might of had in the Football League.

I couldn't believe the 20-1 either. So much so I have had a bit of that.

I thought the top 7 thing comes in next season? So still need to be in too 5 to make playoffs this season

Turns out it is this season, huge chance for teams with low points to get in

Yes, that is what I thought. But the BBC website table has a cut off between 5th and 6th, with another divider after 7th.

Showed it even more tonight how open it is. Despite the head start we gave other teams, I reckon we have a good solid base to get up there over the coming weeks

Dagenham were top before we played them on Saturday, not even in the play-offs after tonights results. Shows how quickly things can change in a few games. Get in a decent striker & we can still finish top!!

Boreham Wood the surprise package, beat some of the supposedly better sides as well, so no fluke.

To be honest, if what I saw last night is really an indication of what the better sides are like, we really aren't far away from making a big impact this season - just a touch more incisiveness last night and we'd have won comfortably. Harrison got the tactics right last night, and while looking on the Wrexham board reveals that they were far from happy with how they played, some of them were rating us as one of the better sides in the league. You get the feeling that with the defence now looking solid and settled, there's a growing confidence in the side and with the flexibility in the system (Rodney dropped back to good effect at times, but also showed a willingness to make runs beyond the last man from deep for example, and we constantly pressed from the front to the back when we didn't have the ball) we really looked like not far off the Chris Turner days of yore when we picked up a pile of 1-0 wins away from home - we don't quite have the cutting edge of that side, and maybe not the strength in depth, but there's certainly something to work with there. I expect us to be moving up the table if we can continue to perform like that, and there's nothing to be scared of....

Now that we have got rid of the walking mistakes in defence, we have found a solid line up and formation that will frustrate any team we play against. It's a useful tactic to have if we are playing a team in form, or one of the so called better teams in the league. The only issue with it is that we are not going to create enough chances, or score enough goals playing that way week in, week out.

The tactic has worked perfectly from Harrisons point of view. It's stopped a rot, it's given everyone belief, and it's got us some brilliant results. He says he never settles and always wants to improve. Now is the time to make little changes to the team and become more attacking. IMO, we need to get Dev or Munns involved in midfield. They are two creative players, who will be able to carve teams open with their vision and passing. Against the lesser sides who are going to be much more defensive, we are going to have to do that instead of relying on Franks to stick one in the net, especially as we don't have a natural goalscorer in the team. Hopefully the club are still on the lookout for one, though

The first component of being a good team is having a good defence. Harrison has got rid of the liabilities and turned it completely around. one or two good strikers and a classy midfielder and no reason why we cant win this league. Hopefully a forward for saturday to take advantage of orients dip in form.

I think you're probably right. As you say, our forwards being able to take chances is a cause for concern. The bench also looked strong last night , for the first time in years.

how did Oates get on last night ? did he look like scoring - like others have said we just need a goal scorer and a classy midfielder or attacking winger and I reckon we will be in a very good position by X-Mas.

No reason now why we wouldn't attract a good CF, someone who wants to come into the side and become a hero. get us 20+ goals in this league and have us promoted. Imagine the damage a fully fit Paynter would have done.

That's part of his problem though, fitness. He still hasn't found himself another club!

To be fair, last night the answer to the question "did he look like scoring" wasn't "yes" for any of the front three. We only really had a couple of proper chances - one Franks hit the bar, the other Rodney had a decent shot saved - plus a couple of dangerous crosses in the box. Oates worked his socks off, did a lot of chasing - looked like he went down with cramp just before he was subbed - didn't particularly get a sight of goal but that was partly we didn't create the sort of chances where you'd expect him to score. I like Oates as a player - whenever I've seen him he's struck me as a honest, hardworking pro - but in common with most of the squad he doesn't come across as a 20 a season striker, he doesn't have a poacher's instinct. Then again, an inch lower and Franks would now be four from four..... The question for me would be whether you sacrifice one of the front three of last night for someone that offers more of a goal threat, but who might not work as hard - part of our success last night was that we defended from the front, with Oates in particular buzzing around enough that a couple of times they ended up going back to the keeper from almost at half way....