The race for automatic promotion and the play-offs in League Two was shaping up to be a cracker until the suspension of the football season.

Just five points separated table-topping Crewe Alexandra and Cheltenham Town in fifth place before the COVID-19 crisis put a halt to the campaign.

No-one knows when the season will resume, but it has to be hoped it is played to a completion at some point.

There has been some good attacking football played by a number of teams in the fourth tier of English football, and excellent individual contributions too.

Here, 11 regional football reporters who cover clubs in League Two have come up with their Team of the Season from across the division.

As well as listing their teams they explain why they have picked their players.

It is a fascinating snapshot into how the 2019/20 season has unfolded and which teams and individuals have stood out.

Jon Colman – Carlisle United (4-4-2)

SCOTT FLINDERS (Cheltenham)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

COHEN BRAMALL (Colchester)

CHARLIE RAGLAN (Cheltenham)

AARON HAYDEN (Carlisle)

ANTHONY GRANT (Swindon)

TOM LOWERY (Crewe)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

JONNY SMITH (Oldham)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

NICKY MAYNARD (Mansfield)

Jon says: League Two is traditionally inconsistent but quality has shone through in certain places and all of the above have made their mark in different ways.

In true Mike Bassett fashion we will be playing 4-4-2, led by Doyle, who has been the division’s best marksman, alongside the experienced Maynard, who has scored well in an underwhelming Mansfield season.

Crewe outclassed Carlisle twice, with Ng and Lowery among a number of impressive performers, while Sarcevic often seems at the heart of Plymouth’s effective work.

Winger Smith, on loan at Oldham, was their best player when I watched them in January.

I’ll have Swindon’s Grant in midfield to add a bit of spite, with Colchester’s Bramall an asset both at left-back and set-pieces.

Cheltenham’s Flinders and Raglan have also been influential against Carlisle, while finally - and - with just a little bias, I’m including Aaron Hayden at centre-half; but not without good reason, considering how impressively the ex-Wolves man has stepped into the Cumbrians' team since November and helped make a struggling side harder to beat.

Jon Palmer – Cheltenham Town (3-4-3)

SCOTT BROWN (Port Vale)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

FARREND RAWSON (Forest Green)

GEORGE COOPER (Plymouth)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

RYAN WINTLE (Crewe)

NICKY ADAMS (Northampton)

DANNY MAYOR (Plymouth)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

TOM POPE (Port Vale)

JOHN McATEE (Scunthorpe)

I’ve chosen an extremely attacking line-up, opting not to pick any Cheltenham players in the interests of fairness!

Scott Brown edges it for top goalkeeper behind a backline all capable of playing higher.

Perry Ng was sent off at the Jonny-Rocks in a 1-1 draw, but his ability was clear and he netted the only goal in the return match.

Argyle’s George Cooper caused problems for Cheltenham in both meetings and was involved in Zak Rudden’s strike in the Boxing Day triumph. They are either side of Farrend Rawson, who helped Forest Green end Cheltenham’s unbeaten home run.

Randell Williams caught the eye at St James Park, enjoying an absorbing duel with Chris Hussey. He’s joined by the hugely talented Ryan Wintle, Danny Mayor and Nicky Adams; there would be no shortage of creativity.

Up front, Eoin Doyle scored twice at Whaddon Road and his record speaks for itself, while Tom Pope fired an eight-minute hat-trick in Vale’s FA Cup win at Cheltenham. At 20, Scunthorpe’s John McAtee looks a top prospect.

Jon Waldron – Colchester United (4-4-1-1)

DEAN GERKEN (Colchester)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

TOM EASTMAN (Colchester)

JACOB GREAVES (Crewe)

COHEN BRAMALL (Colchester)

RYAN BROOM (Cheltenham)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

ASH HUNTER (Salford)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

JERRY YATES (Swindon)

My team features plenty of the players who have helped their respective teams challenge for promotion from League Two, this season.

And I’m pretty confident that this side, lining up in a conventional 4-4-1-1 formation, would give any outfit a serious run for their money.

Admittedly, there is naturally a slight Colchester bias within my selection, although Dean Gerken, Tom Eastman and Cohen Bramall have all been very consistent performers for the U’s so far this season.

Elsewhere, Perry Ng has always been a player who has impressed me whenever I’ve seen him play for Crewe over the years and Antoni Sarcevic and Ash Hunter in particular have both stood out for me, this season.

It’s pretty difficult to look further than Eoin Doyle and Jerry Yates for my two front men, given their prolific form for Swindon Town.

Peter Morse – Crewe Alexandra (4-3-3)

OWEN EVANS (Cheltenham)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

SCOTT WHARTON (Northampton)

NATHAN SMITH (Port Vale)

JOSEPH MILLS (Forest Green)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

RYAN WINTLE (Crewe)

MICHAEL DOUGHTY (Swindon)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

CHARLIE KIRK (Crewe)

Competition for places in this team is as intense as the race for promotion itself, and there is still time to shuffle the pack when the action restarts.

We've seen many outstanding individuals, but I think this 11 would be hard to stop in a 4-3-3 formation.

With 10 clean sheets so far, Owen Evans' hands have looked the safest in the fourth tier.

Nathan Smith and Scott Wharton would add steel at the heart of defence, with plenty of thrust added from full-back by Perry Ng and Joseph Mills.

Ryan Wintle would give the back line extra protection and start the moves from midfield, giving Antoni Sarcevic and Michael Doughty licence to create and score goals.

Moving forward, you can’t look past Randell Williams and Charlie Kirk to provide the ammunition for goal-machine Eoin Doyle.

This side would be comfortable at a much higher level.

Stuart James – Exeter City (3-4-3)

JAMES McKEOWN (Grimsby)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

BEN RICHARDS-EVERTON (Bradford)

CHARLIE RAGLAN (Cheltenham)

GEORGE COOPER (Plymouth)

NIGEL ATANGANA (Exeter)

RYAN BROOM (Cheltenham)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

CHARLIE KIRK (Crewe)

JERRY YATES (Cheltenham)

This has perhaps been one of the most keenly-contested League Two campaigns in many years and the fact there are so many teams in with a chance of the title, promotion and even the play-offs at this late stage underlines just how competitive it is.

Many teams are of an equal standing, I believe, and as the old cliche goes, anyone really is capable of beating anyone in the fourth tier, but there have been one or two outstanding individual performers.

Grimsby goalkeeper James McKeown always seems to play well whenever I see him play, while Eoin Doyle's goals for Swindon before Christmas was nothing short of phenomenal, as was his partnership with Jerry Yates.

George Cooper has been a star loan signing for Plymouth, while Randell Williams has burst onto the scene at Exeter this season and has the most number of assists in the division.

Lining up in an unfamiliar 3-4-3 formation, I have no doubt that this team would easily walk to the League Two title!

Jacob Ransom – Leyton Orient (4-4-2)

ALEX PALMER (Plymouth)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

BEN RICHARDS-EVERTON (Bradford)

CHARLIE RAGLAN (Cheltenham)

CALLUM McFADZEAN (Plymouth)

BEX LUBALA (Crawley)

EBOU ADAMS (Forest Green)

GEORGE COOPER (Plymouth)

CHARLIE KIRK (Crewe)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

NICKY MAYNARD (Mansfield)

Palmer in goal was easy choice, he’s a young talent that has collected 13 clean sheets already this season, with only Northampton Town’s David Cornell matching that impressive record.

At right-back I opted for Perry NG, the 23-year-old impressed me against Leyton Orient, and has impressed me in other clips I've seen of him.

In centre-back I chose Ben Richards-Everton from Bradford and Charlie Raglan from Cheltenham Town who have both been solid and key figures for their teams throughout the campaign.

On the left side I opted for Callum McFadzean as Plymouth’s clean sheet record speaks for itself plus he shows real intent when attacking with the ball

In midfield I went for Ebou Adams and George Cooper, the latter has been crucial for Plymouth, jumps into attacks and has chipped in with goals but is also a key team player that has played at left-back and tries to help the cause. Adams on the other hand is a ball winning midfielder that has come out of his shell this season and stepped up with some vital goals and assists along the way.

Bez Lubala has been a real exciting young talent on the wing and has scored 12 goals to show for his efforts.

Charlie Kirk has been impressive all season for Crewe and been vital to their success. He is a creative force that sets up the strikers while also chipping in with seven of his own goals in the league.

Eoin Doyle, the Swindon striker, goes without saying really, as he leads the scoring race by a country mile with 25 goals.

Nicky Maynard, Mansfield may be struggling, but the striker is second in the scoring ranks with 14 goals and has still impressed.

Andrew Penman – Newport County (4-3-3)

SCOTT FLINDERS (Cheltenham)

RYAN JACKSON (Colchester)

BEN TOZER (Cheltenham)

SCOT BENNETT (Newport)

COHEN BRAMALL (Colchester)

RYAN BROOM (Cheltenham)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

NICKY MAYNARD (Mansfield)

JERRY YATES (Swindon)

I’ve gone for an attacking 4-3-3 line-up with plenty of threat from wide areas.

Ryan Broom and Randell Williams will cause havoc down the flanks as they have done all season and, with Ryan Jackson and Cohen Bramall also overlapping from the full-back positions, there will be plenty of ammunition for the prolific front three who will score bags of goals in this team.

Antoni Sarcevic also offers a goal threat from midfield, while centre-backs Ben Tozer and Scot Bennett are both comfortable bringing the ball out from the back to start attacks from deep.

There’s not too much emphasis on defence and goalkeeper Scott Flinders may well be overworked but, with this team, the best form of defence will be attack.

James Heneghan – Northampton Town (3-4-3)

SCOTT BROWN (Port Vale)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

CHARLIE GOODE (Northampton)

SCOTT WHARTON (Northampton)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

RYAN BROOM (Cheltenham)

NICKY ADAMS (Northampton)

CHARLIE KIRK (Crewe)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

JERRY YATES (Swindon)

It's not easy to pick out just 11 players from a competitive and evenly-matched League Two campaign but there have been a few men who have caught the eye this season.

Stopper Scott Brown was in outstanding form when he almost single-handedly helped Vale to victory at promotion rivals Northampton in February and he's well-protected by a formidable-looking defence.

Perry Ng continues to impress for high-flying Crewe while Scott Wharton and Charlie Goode are both accustomed to playing in a back three having provided the backbone of Northampton's promotion challenge this season.

The midfield is stacked with both creativity and goals thanks to Ryan Broom, who's always a livewire for Cheltenham, and Plymouth's Antoni Sarcevic.

Nicky Adams and Randall Williams bring assists galore (26 between them this season) on the flanks while Charlie Kirk has 14 himself and can roam across the front line, providing plenty of ammunition for Swindon's deadly duo Jerry Yates and Eoin Doyle.

Chris Errington – Plymouth Argyle (4-3-3)

ALEX PALMER (Plymouth)

PERRY NG (Crewe)

TOM EASTMAN (Colchester)

NATHAN SMITH (Port Vale)

GEORGE COOPER (Plymouth)

RYAN BROOM (Cheltenham)

ANTONI SARCEVIC (Plymouth)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

JERRY YATES (Swindon)

CHARLIE KIRK (Crewe)

I have included three Argyle players in my side so I know I’m open to the suggestion of favouritism but I believe Alex Palmer, George Cooper and Antoni Sarcevic are all worthy of their places.

Palmer has kept 14 clean sheets, while Sarcevic is the Pilgrims’ top scorer with 11 goals and Cooper has been Argyle’s King of Assists, with his superb left foot deliveries, both from open play and set pieces.

I have generally been impressed with the standard of the teams and players in League Two so choosing the rest of my side was very tough.

The front three pick themselves, in my opinion, as Eoin Doyle, Jerry Yates and Charlie Kirk have all been outstanding.

Randell Williams has been an excellent attacking outlet for Exeter in their promotion push, and was superb in a 4-0 Devon Derby drubbing of Argyle in October.

Ryan Broom has perhaps been the pick of the players for an impressive Cheltenham under Michael Duff. He, Sarcevic and Williams would provide a lot of attacking impetus from midfield.

Perry Ng has stood out for me playing for Crewe at right-back, while Tom Eastman and Nathan Smith are both strong, commanding centre-backs.

Michael Baggaley – Port Vale (4-4-2)

OWEN EVANS (Macclesfield/Cheltenham)

RANDELL WILLIAMS (Exeter)

CHARLIE RAGLAN (Cheltenham)

DAN SCARR (Walsall)

CHRIS HUSSEY (Cheltenham)

ALEX GILLIEAD (Scunthorpe)

ANTHONY GRANT (Swindon)

MICHAEL DOUGHTY (Swindon)

NATHAN THOMAS (Carlisle)

ALEX ADDAI (Cheltenham)

ELIJAH ADEBAYO (Walsall)

I'll start with a confession. After a while in a season, all the games can blur into one.

So, I asked Vale fans on social media to jog my memory about which players had done well against their side.

The condition was just this. We were picking based on performances against Port Vale this season, not on reputation or league position.

So, although I have seen Danny Mayor for example, absolutely dominate a game in the past, it was only matches against the Vale in this campaign that counted.

That’s why there are no Plymouth or Crewe players in there even though both are having fine seasons and I am sure have plenty of worthy candidates, no doubt who have been more consistent than some of the selections who made our team.

Sorry, two conditions! I haven’t picked any Vale players. Had I done so then goalkeeper Scott Brown, central defenders Nathan Smith and Leon Legge and right midfielder/winger David Worrall would definitely have been in contention.

I’ve also cheated a bit. I know Randell Williams and Chris Hussey have been playing as wing backs whereas they go in as full backs in a back four in our team.

In fact, this side is heavily, and probably hopelessly, weighted towards attack rather than defence. It will mean a lot of work for our holding midfielder Anthony Grant!

Paul Crute – Scunthorpe United (4-3-3)

TOM KING (Newport)

JAMES CLARKE (Walsall)

CAMERON BURGESS (Salford)

CHARLIE RAGLAN (Cheltenham)

PAUDIE O’CONNOR (Bradford)

LUKE JEPHCOTT (Plymouth)

REECE GREGO-COX (Crawley)

ABO EISA (Scunthorpe)

KEVIN VAN VEEN (Scunthorpe)

EOIN DOYLE (Swindon)

PADRAIG AMOND (Newport)

It is maybe hard to believe that out of the top three sides in League Two only two players feature in the XI.

When the Iron faced Plymouth at home in the league, Luke Jephcott was the star player, scoring two goals, recently after returning from a loan spell from Truro City.

He has scored another five goals since then after becoming a regular in the Pilgrims line-up.

Eoin Doyle was almost a shoe-in given his incredible goal scoring form for the Robins this season.

A total of 25 goals is superb in anyone’s books and a run of 15 in 11 consecutive games earlier this season was nothing short of sensational.

Although the Iron sit 20th in League Two, both Kevin van Veen and Abo Eisa have been in good form, with the latter scoring some superb goals.

Striker Padraig Amond and midfielder Reece Grego-Cox have produced some good performances when coming up against the Iron.