League Two’s golden boot race currently sits on a knife-edge. Three goals separate five players at the time of writing, showing just how open League Two can be.
Here is a look into the five favourites that we at The Lower Tiers think could win the prestigious golden boot award.
Once again, Cheeky is delivering. 2024/25 season’s player of the year is continuing to demonstrate exceptional effectiveness in front of goal.
Bromley’s high-flying form has revolved around Cheek’s clinical nature in front of goal, linking up with Mitch Pinnock on numerous occasions to bag fourteen goals so far this season.
Our Bromley correspondent Oliver Whiteman stated “Cheek has entered double digits in goals for the thirteenth season in a row – that certainly takes some doing. The natural goalscorer initially flew under the radar due to Bromley’s set piece threat but now as joint top goalscorer in League Two this season, the striker simply can’t be ignored.”
With so much goalscoring talent, Cheek seems the obvious favourite to win it!
It’s fair to say, not many expected Aaron Drinan to be League Two’s joint top scorer. In fact, I’d imagine if you told a Swindon Town fan back in August, he would be the League’s top scorer, they probably would have laughed in your face!
Ian Holloway’s revitalised Drinan’s EFL trajectory, performing as one of two strikers in their system, playing off one-another. From bagging four last season, Drinan overtook his previous total in mid-September!
Although his form has dipped slightly since New Year, Drinan surely still seems likely to pick up the golden boot award come May.
As expected, given his prestige across the Championship and League One, former Scottish international Paterson has flourished in League Two under Paul Warne, bagging twelve goals.
Four of those appeared in Paterson’s last two outings! A hat-trick against Shrewsbury Town came on the 17th of January, alongside netting the winner last night against strugglers Bristol Rovers. Paterson’s undoubtably been catalyst in MK’s upturn in form in the last couple of weeks.
Despite the evident two goals deficit, with Paterson’s plethora of Championship experience, a late surge for the golden boot certainly seems a possibility.
Slightly edging ahead of fellow hotshot Matthew Dennis, Jatta gets the nod for this list. Dennis likewise sits on eleven goals; however, Dennis has suffered a decrease in form since November.
On the other hand, Jatta seems to have found his stride once again. Consecutive goals in the last couple of weeks against Crawley Town, Crewe Alexandra and Swindon Town increased his tally for the campaign, following a four-game drought.
Midway through his third season of EFL football, Jatta maintains his position as one of the division’s leading strikers. 35 goals since the switch from Denmark allude to the suggestion that a late push for the golden boot may be on the cards for the Gambian!
Rounding off this listicle with Walsall’s Daniel Kanu, he sits on level terms with Jatta on eleven goals scored. Throughout his first full season loan spell at an EFL side, Kanu’s certainly caught the attention of parent club Charlton Athletic!
The most memorable goal came back in December, when fired a rocket into the top-corner against Shrewsbury Town after turning past his defender, definitely one for this season’s highlights reel!
Albeit I feel it’s fair to say that Kanu seems the most unlikely of the five mentioned, particularly with Walsall’s form taking a downward turn in the last couple of months.
Ryan Graydon’s been on fire since switching from Fleetwood Town to Salford City, scoring three goals in four games for The Ammies, and as they continue to climb up the table, perhaps Graydon might fancy a shot at the golden boot!
As previously mentioned, Matthew Dennis for Notts County currently sits on eleven goals for the season, but has seen gametime decrease, being frozen out of favour behind Jatta.
Probably just wishful thinking from me, but Kyreece Lisbie’s the only non-striker on the listicle, and with ten goals to his name already, will Lisbie’s chances continue to grow as Colchester continue a decent spell of form?
