By Charlie Elliott
The international break is here, which means that the Premier League and Championship come to a halt momentarily, giving greater attention to the lower leagues.
In League One and League Two, a limited selection of fixtures were on show due to international call ups for a few sides, but those who played gave fans a lot to shout about.
Not the best of weekends for those who love goals, as there were six 0-0 draws, and football purists may not have been impressed with the offering on show.
But look beyond the score lines and there was plenty to be enthralled by.
Bradford City brought in over 23 thousand fans for a League Two game, further reinforcing why the English football pyramid is such an amazing thing.
Here is Charlie Elliott’s Team of the Week for the international break weekend. (Formation 5-2-2-1, if that exists).
Glenn Morris (Gillingham)
With six 0-0 draws out of the 17 EFL games this weekend, you could say that it was a gameweek that favoured goalkeepers and defences.
Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris was the best of the lot with a great performance in his side’s goalless draw to League Two table toppers Walsall.
At 41-years-old, it is remarkable that he is still able to have consistently good games at this level.
His highlight was an early save from Saddlers striker Jamille Matt, in which Morris came out well to stop the striker, who was in on goal and had acres of space.
Josh Neufville (AFC Wimbledon)
AFC Wimbledon may have been stunned by two late goals from Barrow AFC, to draw 2-2 at home, but a draw was still enough to keep them in the automatics in League Two.
Right wing-back Josh Neufville was a thorn in the Bluebirds’ side throughout, with some quality dribbling against his opposing fullback, and he looked dangerous across the whole game.
Although he sometimes struggles with his final product, he provided an assist over the weekend.
He dribbled past his defender beautifully and just managed to keep the ball in play along the byline, providing a cross for Matty Stevens to score.
Anthony O’Connor (Harrogate Town)
Another 0-0 encounter took place between Chesterfield and Harrogate Town, with the visitors from Yorkshire being the happier of the two teams to take the point.
It wasn’t the most memorable game, but with the home team creating more chances, it took a stout defence to keep them at bay.
Anthony O’Connor was the key man for the Sulphurites, as he was always there to snuff out any danger.
The Irish centre-back was solid at the back and well deserving of his clean sheet.
James Bolton (Fleetwood Town)
Another uninspiring 0-0 draw, this time between Fleetwood Town and Tranmere Rovers, at Highbury Stadium.
Centre-back James Bolton completed the most duels and played the most passes in a game which will not go down in the memories of fans.
Tranmere striker Harvey Saunders was subbed off after 59 minutes largely due to being completely man-marked out of the game by Bolton, who can be proud of yet another strong performance.
Laurence Maguire (MK Dons)
MK Dons got their second win in three games with a 1-0 away victory at Cheltenham Town, with Laurence Maguire’s fellow centre-back Jack Sanders scoring the only goal of the game.
While it might have been easier to have selected Sanders for this team, Maguire had the better game on the whole, with more aerial duels won and three chances created across the 90 minutes.
A solid three at the back with Luke Offord as well, Harry Maguire’s brother stood out, but all three could have staked their claim for being here.
Elliot Newby (Barrow AFC)
It is now twice in two games that Barrow have come from two goals down to draw 2-2, with the latest edition happening away at Wimbledon.
An 85th-minute Stevens goal put the Wombles 2-0 up, before goals in the 88th and 90+6th minutes ensured the Bluebirds took a point back to Cumbria.
Elliot Newby got the assist for the first, which is generous to say the least considering goalscorer Dean Campbell ran about 20 yards before slotting it home from outside the box, but they all count.
He also created the most chances and made the most dribbles in the match whilst also having a great battle with fellow TOTW inclusion Neufville.
Stephen Wearne (Carlisle United)
Carlisle United are now level on points with League Two second-bottom side Morecambe, with a game in hand after they beat Bromley 2-1 at home.
Stephen Wearne was involved in both goals, with a goal and an assist in a perfect midfielder’s performance.
His goal early on was a tidy finish from just outside the box, as he dummied past his man before curling a low shot into the corner.
The assist that he got was less impressive, receiving the ball off a short corner and playing a square pass to Callum Whelan, who scored through a host of bodies.
George Lapslie (Bradford City)
Bradford edged ever closer to Walsall at the top of League Two, with a convincing 4-1 win at home to Colchester United, in front of a packed-out crowd at Valley Parade.
Midfielder George Lapslie got a brace for the Bantams, with both coming from close range.
The first was a header that he could not miss, which gave his side a 2-1 lead at the time, which technically means that it was the winning goal.
A neat flick high into the net from the near post rounded off the scoring late on, securing all three points for the promotion hopefuls.
Malik Mothersille (Peterborough United)
Surprisingly the only League One player in this team, attacking midfielder Malik Mothersille got a goal and an assist in Peterborough United’s 3-0 win at home to fourth-place side Charlton Athletic.
A good through ball to Abraham Odoh doubled their lead just before half time, which all but finished the game off, but the former Chelsea academy player wasn’t satisfied with just an assist.
Later on, he neatly flicked a ball out wide to Cian Hayes, before receiving it around the penalty spot from a low cross and striking low into the corner, well beyond Will Mannion.
Like so many who have played at London Road, the attacker has a bright future ahead of him.
Calum Kavanagh (Bradford City)
Lapslie wasn’t the only player to get a brace for Bradford, with his attacking midfield partner Calum Kavanagh also getting in on the act.
The scoring was opened when the Irishman just about beat Matt Macey to the ball and poked it past the U’s keeper into an empty net.
That set the tone for the day, with another scrappy goal coming later as the midfielder slid to bundle home a cross into the far corner.
A great outing and Kavanagh will be hoping that it is looked back upon as a key win in their quest for promotion back to League One.
Ronan Curtis (Port Vale)
Port Vale looked like they were going to be held to a 0-0 draw at home to relegation-battling Morecambe, in a result which would have frustrated the home fans.
After a second-half onslaught, the game looked to be petering out and fans were evidently agitated, but up stepped Ronan Curtis.
Way too good for this league, he fired home from 25 yards out, low in Harry Burgoyne’s corner, to send Vale Park into raptures.
Now level on points with Wimbledon, who are currently third, this could be a season-defining moment.
Darren Moore’s side will have to remain wary though, as without Curtis’ brilliance, they would have got a very disappointing point at home.