well a variation on 3-5-2 is 5-3-2. this works in lower leagues better than higher.
have wing backs and set them to attack. you can usually use a decent winger and convert them to wing backs. then have 2 ball playing defenders and one limited defender.
in the midfield have on ball winner, one box to box and one advanced play maker.
up front you can have anything really... i would normally want a target man and a poacher so the wing backs crosses can be headed down by the target man to the poacher but whatever you got works well really. just not two the same.
This is the real life tactic of Exeter City and is really effective away from home especially. as you can get numbers back easy but then counter pretty well/
hope this helps!