It will be interesting to compare the performances of rival strikers Chris Porter and Jon Stead at Notts County this afternoon, at the home of the oldest surviving Football League club.
On the subject of ‘old,’ this duo are two of the more senior centre forwards in the Football League, both having celebrated their 33rd birthdays.
Both have had superb seasons in the fourth tier, hardly surprising because they are both experienced target men more accustomed to plying their trade at a higher level.
In fact, both men have 13 league goals to their name this term, an impressive haul which sees them joint ninth in the League Two goals-charts, alongside Hartlepool’s Padraig Armond and Ollie Watkins, of Exeter City.
Barnet’s John Akinde and Doncaster’s John Marquis are level on top with 23 goals, with Stevenage’s Matthew Godden in third with 20 goals.
This is Porter’s best season for a decade. He bagged 14 goals in the Scottish Premier League, while on the books of Motherwell in 2007-08, but has not had such a prolific campaign in the English game since his superb haul of 21 goals in 35 league appearances for Oldham Athletic, in 2006-07.
The ex-Sheffield United striker would probably be threatening the 20-goal mark again, if it was not for missing six weeks due to a hamstring injury from the end of October through to Boxing Day.
Porter is currently on 98 league goals, in England, so he is only two short of the century.
“Chris is having his best season for a number of years. He’s a real handful at this level, and it was great to see him back amongst the goals (two) against Luton,” said U’s boss John McGreal.
Stead, like Porter, is also a former Sheffield United marksman who has so far netted 117 league goals in his distinguished career.
His 13 goals this season have come from 30 league appearances, and in a struggling team – Notts County were in relegation trouble until a few weeks ago.
The ex-Huddersfield, Blackburn and Bristol City front-man netted 19 goals in 64 league appearances for Ipswich between 2008 to 2010.
Stead’s likely partner up front today will be ex-Newcastle United Shola Ameobi, who ironically is two years older than both Stead and Porter.
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