The final part of the Notts striker series for January looks at potential targets from non-league.
Notts have regularly used non-league to find talents, develop them and make them better players. There was no better case than the summer transfer window that proceeded our promotion season where Notts signed recently promoted Gateshead pair, Macaulay Langstaff and Cedwyn Scott and two of Kidderminster Harriers’ FA Cup heroes in Sam Austin and Geraldo Bajrami.
Going further back, the previous season heralded the arrivals of Kyle Cameron and Aaron Nemane. All six players contributed to Notts’ promotion at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Over the summer, Lorent Tolaj, Connor Barrett, Joe Sbarra, Callum Maycock, Wyll Stanway, Marcus Wyllie, Liam Dulson and Ethon Archer have all made the move from non-league to the EFL.
At the recent fans forum Stuart Maynard mentioned that non-league could be a place where Notts look to in January for players. With this, let’s take a look at a few options in the goals department.
Name: Jack Stevens
Club: Solihull Moors
Age as of January 1st 2025: 24
Height: 5’9
End of contract: 2025
Someone who I’ve banged the drum for numerous times this year, Stevens is the next talent from Solihull’s solid recruitment over the past few years. Joe Sbarra, Andy Dallas, Ryan Barnett and Josh Kelly have all moved higher up after their spells at Damson Park and Stevens looks like he’ll be next.
Stevens had made his way into the Solihull first team picture over the last 12 months. He joined the Moors in March 2023 from Banbury, having helped them win the Southern Premier League in 2021-22, scoring 15 goals, despite joining 3 months into the season.
He scored once in the last 10 games of 22-23, a 94th minute overhead kick against Oldham. In 2023-24, he would spend the first half of the season behind Josh Kelly and Mark Beck in the pecking order. He would step up after Kelly left in January, finishing the season with 17 goals in all competitions. He scored 8 in the league, 2 in the play-offs, 4 in the FA Trophy and 3 in the FA Cup. So far this season (at the time of writing), Stevens already has 11 league goals and 1 FA Cup goal, with him interchanging between the striker role and playing on the wing to supply Conor Wilkinson.
Stevens is a hard-working, quick, agile front man who will put in the hard yards and press the opposition. He is also a strong finisher and a good penalty taker. His work rate is a tremendous asset of his and this is showcased in his off the ball movement. This is shown in several of his goals over the course of this season.
On the opening day against Fylde, he drifts into a wide position, before quickly bringing the ball inside and laying it off to Matty Warburton. Crucially, Stevens continues his run into the penalty area off the ball, placing himself in a huge amount of space in the Fylde penalty area, from which he receives the ball and finishes calmly into the bottom corner.
Another example of his infectious work rate is against Oldham. Here, he flicks the ball to Bradley Stevenson whilst hogging the touchline, spins Reagan Ogle and keeps up with teammate Stevenson as the Moors bear down on goal. Stevenson’s shot is blocked, but deflects into the path of Stevens, who has continued his run into the penalty area and again slots the ball into the bottom corner.
Not just has he showcased his work rate but Stevens has also shown his awareness to stay onside in the case the ball does fall to him. Stevens shows great composure to control the ball first time and finish with the keeper closing the angle.
By far my favourite goal of his, is his goal against Altrincham at Damson Park. Here he receives the ball out on the wing, making his way to the edge of the penalty area, where he has spotted the run of Bradley Stevenson, playing a pass through the gap of two Alty players.
Once he completes this action, he motors into the penalty area, continuing his run, where he receives the ball back from Stevenson and shows excellent composure to dummy Alty defender James Jones and unleash a ferocious effort into the corner leaving the keeper stranded.
One other aspect of Jack Stevens’ game is his positioning and reading of the game. He has good knowhow of where to be at the right time in the attacking phase.
In the last game of the 2023/24 season, Stevens scored a late winner at home to York City. We can see in the build-up, that once The Moors win the ball back on the wing, Stevens has noticed and is already making a bee-line for the penalty area.
Here, he makes himself available for a pass from Callum Maycock, and he shows great composure to thunder a first time shot into the net. The pass played to him is also bouncing, so it’s crucial that he hits it with the right amount of power at the right time, otherwise his shot could end up off target.
Stevens gets the equaliser in The Moors’ 4-3 win over Barnet and once again his awareness and positioning is on show. Solihull have a free-kick and in the first pic we see Stevens look behind him to see the free space open up at the back post. This awareness of the space around him is a crucial asset to any striker. He makes the run to the back post and heads in to equalise for Solihull.
Stevens scored a brace against Woking in a 2-1 win at Damson Park. His first goal came from the penalty spot, but his 2nd goal, to win the game shows his positional sense and striker instincts again.
He stays central when Jamey Osborne starts his charge into the penalty area, but most importantly, when Osborne combines with Bradley Stevenson in the penalty area, he stays in the centre of the box, unmarked and is ready to receive the ball from Osborne, from which he strikes home first time to give The Moors the 3 points. Stevens has that ability to be in the right place at the right time, like any good goalscorer.
With Solihull currently sitting in mid-table at the time of writing, Jack Stevens could be on quite a few shortlists for EFL clubs. A hard-working, energetic and composed finisher, Stevens has similar traits to Langstaff and is ready to make the step up to League Two football. He is definitely someone I’d like to see make his way to Meadow Lane. Richard Montague, sign him.
Name: Callum Stewart
Club: Leamington
Age as of January 1st 2025: 23
Height: 5’10
End of contract: 2025
Having scored over 80 goals for Coventry Sphinx, Leamington took the chance on Callum Stewart in the summer of 2023. He repaid them with 18 goals, which contributed to The Brakes’ promotion from the Southern League Division Central, via the play-offs.
He has carried that scoring form into this season with 14 goals and sitting top of the scoring charts in the National League North, showing his ability to excel in a higher division, just like a certain former Notts striker.
Stewart has really good awareness and has a fantastic work rate. He is a clinical finisher and a confident penalty taker, being The Brakes’ main man from 12 yards. What he lacks in strength, he makes up for in his energy.
We start with what is probably his best performance of the season where he scored a hattrick in a 4-1 victory over Oxford City. His 2nd goal and Leamington’s 3rd actually comes from a mistake which he contributes to. A combination of Stewart’s relentless work rate and a miscommunication in the City defence, force the mistake in which the defender heads over the keeper and Stewart is on hand to score into the empty net. Even with the mistake, the goal still isn’t possible without him being in that position in the first place.
This is not just a key asset to have in this situation, but also when teams play out from the back, in which he can press from the front and force a turnover in the opposition’s half, leading to a better goalscoring opportunity.
The 2nd goal we look at from this game is Leamington’s 4th and Cal’s hattrick. His work rate is on full display again. When the pass is first made into teammate Tim Berridge, Stewart is on the half way line, however by the time Berridge is on the edge of the area, he has made up the ground to give him the option of the pass. Stewart gets on to the pass and finishes first time and completes his hattrick.
Stewart has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Both of his goals against Spennymoor and Southport showcase his goalscoring instincts. In the game against Spennymoor, Stewart is right where he needs to be score from close range, having positioned himself well to get on the end of the corner. In the Southport game, his job is made more difficult with his shirt being pulled, but he manages to shrug off the defender and make his way into space to be able to tap home the ball at the back post, after the cross from the corner had made its way through the gaggle of players in the penalty area.
During the opening day fixture away to Buxton, Stewart shows for a pass inside the penalty area, takes it down on his chest, away from the defender and strikes the ball past the keeper at his near post.
Before he receives the pass, he shows for the ball and signals that he wants the pass to be played. His positioning is brilliant, putting himself in the gap between two Buxton players. This means he has enough space to take control of the ball and have a chance at a shooting opportunity. When he takes the ball down, he crucially takes the ball away from the Chester player who is goal side of him, meaning he has an easier shooting opportunity.
Callum Stewart is another hot shot of non-league football and another breakout talent from the lower reaches of the English pyramid. Whilst the EFL may be a step too soon, he no doubt has the potential to be playing in it, in a few years’ time.
Name: Owen Oseni
Club: Gateshead*
Age as of January 1st 2025: 21
Height: 6’1
End of contract: 2026
A player who arrived at The Heed in the summer, following in the footsteps of former Derby teammate Dajaune Brown, Oseni has already hit 13 league goals this season which has helped Gateshead to 4th in the table at the time of writing.
Oseni had previously spent time on loan at Rushall Olympic, scoring 8 goals in 15appearances, before making the step up to National League level this summer, signing for Gateshead on a permanent basis.
Oseni is an athletic, strong and quick striker and these are traits we will see in the goals he has scored this season. He is a presence in the penalty area, standing at 6’1, but he is also a good presser and has the ability to run in behind.
We start with a trait that is an important requirement in what Notts should be looking for from a striker in January, and that is the ability to play on the shoulder of the last defender, making runs in behind.
The first clip we look at, is his goal away at Braintree, where The Heed came away with a point from a 2-2 draw. When Joe Grayson receives the ball on halfway and drives forward into the Braintree half, we already see Oseni has started his run inbetween the Iron defenders. He has seen the space open up for Grayson to produce the through ball.
From then on, it’s all about Oseni and his pace, latching onto the ball ahead of the Braintree defender, firing first time into the opposite corner. From this goal, we also see his awareness of where the best place is to place the ball. As the keeper has come to defend his near post (knowing the defender, Braintree’s No.15 Frankie Terry, is rushing across Oseni’s body goal side), Oseni knows that the far corner has been left unprotected and with Terry bearing down on him, he is also aware that he needs to take his shot first time to have the best chance of scoring. This is key decision making in vital moments.
For his second goal, we look at Gateshead’s 2-2 away at Altrincham, where Oseni scores The Heed’s first goal. With this goal we don’t just see his positional awareness but his intelligence in finding space to receive the ball.
Instead of taking up his natural position in the number 9 role in the penalty area, we can see Oseni takes up a wide position. This way he can either pull defenders out of position to create more space for the attacking midfielders, or free up space for himself to receive the ball in a dangerous position.
In this case it’s more of the latter, but Oseni takes it one step further and makes that run in behind the Alty defence, which leaves him free in the penalty area to slot home. Once the ball reaches Dan Jones, Oseni has started his run towards the six-yard box. His cause is made easier when Callum Whelan flicks the ball into his path.
Oseni continues his run and shows good composure to strike the ball first time beyond the keeper, who was on rushing to close the angle.
Next, we look at Oseni’s goal in the Heed’s 2-0 win over Boston at the International Stadium. It is here we see the Gateshead No.9’s movement on show yet again. However, this time, it is the timing of the run which is impressive.
Throughout the move, Oseni stays as the highest point of Gateshead’s attack, which is very common in a lot of The Heed’s attacking moves. Here we see Oseni continuously stays a few yards away from the Boston centre-back until it is time to make the crucial move.
Once Luke Hannant receives the ball out wide, Oseni stays close, but once Hannant starts to run at his man, Oseni starts to move inbetween the defenders, moving into the position where he has the best chance to get on the end of Hannant’s low cross.
Once the ball is driven low into the box, Oseni darts across, taking up space between the two centre-backs, where he is in the right place at the right time to tap the ball from the inside the six-yard box.
An aspect of League Two which is very much crucial but sometimes overlooked, is the physicality of the league and something that Notts were not particularly prepared for last season. This season it seems we are more prepared in all areas, especially with Jatta leading the line. This is another part of Oseni’s game which he has showcased throughout the current 2024-25 season.
Standing at 6’1, Oseni has a good build and has plenty of strength as shown in quite a few of the highlights of Gateshead’s season. Three of Oseni’s 10 league goals have come from headers. The one example we will look at is his goal against Solihull, which won The Heed the game in 91st minute.
Gateshead take a short corner, where Regan Booty has the ball at his feet, a few yards out from the 18-yard box. In the first picture we see Oseni battling away in the centre of the penalty area with Solihull captain Jamey Osborne, who is doing the most he can to fight off the The Heed’s number 9 without committing a foul.
When Booty crosses the ball, Oseni takes up position at the back post, with Osborne still tugging his shirt. However, Oseni overpowers and out muscles his opponent to get to the ball first and head home the winning goal. It is this power, physical presence and aerial ability, coupled with the determination to get the ball first, which makes Owen Oseni such a potent player inside the penalty area.
During the first half of his first season, Oseni has hit the ground running, showcasing his abilities in front of goal. Having expressed his goalscoring exploits over a short loan spell at National League North last season, Oseni has made the step up to the National League and has taken to it like a duck to water. If he continues on his current trajectory, he’ll become the latest in a growing list of Gateshead players to have made moves up the football pyramid.
*Please note that since writing this piece Oseni has secured a move to St Mirren.
Name: Charlie Caton
Club: Chester
Age as of January 1st 2025: 22
Height: 5’11
End of contract: 2025
A former Shrewsbury youth team player, Caton is now in his 2nd season as a permanent member of the Chester squad. Caton had originally joined Chester on loan in November 2022 and notched up 7 goals during that time, as well as contributing 7 assists in 26 league appearances, before joining permanently that summer.
In his first full season, Caton managed 5 league goals in 32 appearances but this was a season disrupted due to injury. However, this season, he has doubled that goal tally in much less time (11 goals so far). This form earned him National League North player of the month for August.
Caton is a good finisher, with an excellent work rate and a player who can pick up good positions in and around the penalty area. He has good stature too, being effective in the box with his head and composed with the ball at his feet.
The first trait we will look at, is his positioning. Caton is very good at showing for the ball and being in the right place at the right time. Both goals in Chester’s 3-2 win over Scarborough from earlier this season, not just show his positional sense, but also his finishing ability.
In the build-up to the first goal, Caton shows for the ball and points to where he wants it playing, which is something we see in the lead up to many of his goals. Not just this, but he occupied space away from any Scarborough defender, giving him the best opportunity to get a shot away when the ball does come to his feet.
Once he does receive the ball, he takes it away from the defender, and despite being off balance, rifles a powerful shot into the roof of the net to level it up for Chester. This is an especially impressive finish, as Caton is off balance when takes the shot.
Caton bags a brace in this game and his 2nd goal shows his positioning from dead ball situations. In this case, Chester have a throw on the far side and they take it long into the penalty area. Throughout this action, Caton has taken up position at the back post, anticipating any chance the ball has coming his way.
Like all good strikers, Caton is ready to pounce at any opportunity that may fall to him. The ball is flicked on to the back post, where he controls and strikes past the keeper from a few yards out. Once again, his positional awareness is on full display.
This ability to position himself in the right areas and ghost into the box undetected is a massive skill to have as a striker and one which Caton has excelled at this season, allowing him to hit double figures.
We once again see this on show against Hereford. He is the furthest player forward in this attack and the closest to the penalty area. In the first picture, we can see Chester have worked the ball down the wing, which has moved quite a few Hereford players away from the centre and Caton is on the edge of the 18-yard box.
By the time the ball is played into the box, Caton has made the all-important run into the space, between the defenders and he’s in the exact right place to head home from a few yards out.
Caton has great intelligence and reading of the game and the timings of his runs are brilliant. We see this in Chester’s opening goal against Peterborough Sports. When Kurt Willoughby drives forward with the ball and makes it to the halfway line, Caton has already shown where he wants the ball playing and has started his run in between the Sports’ defenders.
Caton receives the ball in the space between the two Peterborough defenders and because he’s timed his run to perfection, it means he is one on one with the goalkeeper, from where he produces a composed finish to give Chester the lead.
The final goal we will look at is from Chester’s 2-0 win over Radcliffe. Here, we see once again Caton times his run perfectly. This time when Jordan Hunter receives the ball back on the wing, after taking a throw in, Caton has already started his run into the penalty area.
Caton meets the cross and rises highest to produce a powerful header into the top corner to give Chester a 2-0 lead. These last two goals show his willingness to run in behind, as well as his aerial ability.
At 22 years old, Caton still has time to grow and develop into an even more prolific goalscorer if given time in the central striker role, something he has shared this season with Tom Peers and Kurt Willoughby. If he doesn’t have EFL interest, then a move up to the National League can’t be far away.
Name: Callum Stead
Club: Barnet
Age as of January 1st 2025: 25
Height: 6’0
End of contract: 2026
Another player who can play up front or out wide, Callum Stead joined Barnet in the summer of 2023, after a stellar season at Brackley Town.
Stead scored 15 league goals for Barnet in 2023/24 and has continued that good form into this season, scoring 7 goals in the league and 2 in the FA Cup.
A versatile forward with an exceptional work rate, Stead has formed a great partnership with the prolific Nicke Kabamba during his time at The Hive and he was part of the Bees side that finished 2nd last season and, as of writing, sit in the National League top 3.
We will start with his first two goals this season against Ebbsfleet, both showing his ability to make clever runs in and around the box, but also his ability to run in behind.
For his first goal, Barnet have possession out on the wing with Joe Kizzi and Zak Brunt trading passes. Once Brunt, receives the ball, we immediately see Stead start making moves in the penalty area, moving into free space.
He stays in this space when The Bees work the ball to Billy Clifford. Stead ensures to remain onside, even when the pass is slightly delayed, timing his run perfectly and finishing calmly past Mark Cousins to give Barnet the lead.
For his 2nd goal, Barnet have the ball in their own half with Nikola Tavares and Joe Kizzi. Kizzi plays a ball over the top for Stead, who has already started his run, in behind the Ebbsfleet defence, showcasing his pace and movement.
From here, he bares down on goal where has three options: go it alone, play it across to Nicke Kabamba or pull it back for Zak Brunt. He chooses to go it alone, showing the confidence in his own ability to finish the chance off.
It looks like a simple finish from here across the keeper, but Stead has another trick up his sleeve (or sock). With Giles Phillips closing him down, he quickly cuts in and switches the ball onto his left foot, allowing for a clearer shooting opportunity, indicating his capability to keep calm under pressure and make clever decision making in the penalty area. His shot is too powerful for Mark Cousins and he gives Barnet a 2-0 lead.
In Barnet’s 7-0 win against Tamworth, we again see his ability to be composed in front of goal. At this point, Barnet are already 5-0 up and well on their way to the victory, where they put together a few quick passes which moves them up the pitch. Here Stead is again the highest point of attack and whilst the defending is poor, he is already positioning himself in the right place to receive the pass.
Once he receives the ball, Stead anticipates the movement of Tamworth defender Luke Fairlamb, skipping past him and moving the ball onto his left foot and under pressure from the closing Tamworth defenders, slots the ball into the bottom corner, well away from the keeper’s reach.
The last two goals we look at involve the timings of Callum Stead’s runs into the box. The first example of this is against Fylde, where The Bees are already 1-0 up. In the first picture, we see Nicke Kabamba holding the ball up on the edge of the 18-yard box, where he sets Ben Coker free down the wing.
Stead has stayed central and once Coker receives the ball, that’s his trigger to start making his run into the penalty area.
Ben Coker breaks into the box and slides the ball across where Stead has positioned himself perfectly to tap the ball home and wrap up the three points for Barnet. It is this ability to be in the right place at the right time that will ensure he continues to be prolific this season.
The final goal we look is Callum Stead’s vital goal to give Barnet the lead, in their 3-1 win over Braintree at The Hive. He is one of many Barnet players in the penalty area, awaiting a cross from the wing, where Barnet have a 3-on-2 advantage.
When Harry Chapman cuts inside, this is Stead’s trigger to move in-between the Braintree defenders and start his run. The instance the ball leaves Chapman’s foot, Stead times his run to a tee.
From then Stead meets the cross and headers into the corner beyond the keeper to give The Bees the lead. Despite not being the tallest player in the box, the timing of his runs, his reading of the game and his awareness of his surroundings ensure he is a big threat in front of goal.
In conclusion, Stead is a player with an excellent work rate and one who is very effective in his pressing and flourishes as the highest point of that press. He is a player who can play on the shoulder of the last defender, punishing teams with his pace and the timing of his runs. He will be an EFL player soon either with Barnet or another team.
Name: Danny Ormerod
Club: AFC Fylde
Age as of January 1st 2025: 18
Height: 6’0
End of contract: 2025
Recently called back from a loan at Chorley in the National League North, Ormerod had a breakthrough season in 2023-24, scoring 7 goals for Fylde in the National League and having regular game time despite only being 17 years old. He has since turned 18 and has scored 3 goals in 5 appearances for the 6th tier Magpies.
Ormerod has quite a lean build but is a good height. He is as adept with his heading, as he is with his shooting. Ormerod has good awareness of his surroundings and nice composure in front of goal, befitting a striker with many more years under their belt.
The first trait of Danny Ormerod we will look at is his ability to run in behind the opposition defence. A crucial quality of any forward in Notts’ system and we have two examples of this from the 2023-24 season.
The first goal we look at is the first of his two strikes in a 2-0 win against Rochdale. In the first picture we see Connor Barrett bring the ball inside and as soon as he spots this, Ormerod is off, making the run in-between the Rochdale defenders.
Ormerod latches onto the ball just outside of the 18-yard box, but instead of doing what most strikers would do and take a touch and try work a shooting opportunity from the space available, he decides to take the shot first time.
This is what impresses me the most about this passage of play. He not only makes the best decision in this scenario and the finish is exquisite to go with it, but it shows he has the confidence at such a young age to back himself in the crucial moments.
He bagged a brace in that game and did so again in a 4-1 win over Maidenhead. This is another example of him getting in behind the defence and taking the shot first time.
In this passage of play, we see him run from his own half to make a run in behind, showcasing his brilliant work rate.
From here, Ormerod gets onto the end of the through ball, takes a touch and shoots from around 20 yards out to make it 1-0. Despite having more space in front of him to carry the ball, Ormerod takes the shot on early. This proves to be a good decision as the keeper is out of his 6-yard box, aiming to narrow the angle when Ormerod reaches the penalty area.
However, because Ormerod takes the shot early and never enters the 18-yard box, the keeper is caught out by Ormerod’s early shot. Ormerod’s decision making once again proves to be decisive and because he shoots earlier, it makes the goal a much bigger target to aim for.
The goal that impressed me the most is his goal in Fylde’s 2-2 draw with Solihull.
Fylde take a quick thrown in on the near side, where he immediately places himself in the centre of the 18-yard box, not just showing his willingness to get into a goal scoring position quickly, but his attention and awareness to what’s going on, on the ball. This quick throw means Solihull are not set or organised in their defensive shape.
From there, Josh Kay’s cross goes all the way through to Ash Hunter, who’s first touch takes it past two Solihull players, to Ormerod, who has held position in the penalty area.
Once the ball makes its way to him, Ormerod brings the ball under control and quickly gets it out of feet to avoid the tackle of James Clarke and fire into the roof of the net to put The Coasters 2-0 up.
Ormerod’s impressive awareness, agility and decision making are critical in this situation and all of these essentials contribute to him finishing under pressure in a chaotic situation.
Ormerod is still very early in his career but has already made a big impression on the 5th tier and definitely has the ability and the maturity beyond his years to make the step up through the leagues in the coming years.
That completes my three part analysis of strikers I think Notts County should have on their radar. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed compiling these articles.
Declan Weliczko
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