Sutton United boss Paul Doswell says performances like those against Tonbridge Angels and Dartford this week, will see his side to the Ryman League Premier Division play-offs.

A last-minute header from Sonny Cobbs saw United claimed all three points with a 2-1 win at Tonbridge on Saturday before Doswell’s men were humbled 3-0 at home by league leaders Dartford on Tuesday.

The results leave Sutton 12th in the table but only three points off fifth following a solid, if unspectacular start to the campaign that has brought four wins and five defeats.

Doswell had said he would have been happy with two points from the last two fixtures and, despite Tuesday’s defeat, he is confident his side is well on track.

“We’ve got a little bonus as far as I’m concerned and if this team plays anything like it has done over the last two games, we will get into the play-offs again this year,”he said.

“Apart from the leaders, this league is wide open. Anyone could make the top five and, as has been shown far, any team is capable of beating anyone.

“Every manager is going to be looking for consistency and realistically we are going to need a run similar to the one we got together last year to get up there.

“But for the first time this team is starting to come together. The starting 11 and shape is starting to look settled and I couldn’t be happier with the lads.”

Doswell was forced to show Kenny Beaney and Justyn Roberts the exit door this week to trim his weekly budget, despite a £25,000 cash injection from the sale of Stefan Payne to Premier League Fulham last week.

Former Lewes man Stefan Cox - on trial at Crystal Palace over the summer - has come in, but the Gander Green Lane chief insists times remain tight.

“Letting Justyn and Kenny go was purely financial. We cannot afford to keep paying players if they are not playing regular first team football,” he said.

“Every year you need something like a Stefan Payne deal to come off to break even. Last year we had the FA Cup run and that cash simply gets absorbed into the running of the club.

“I think our budget at this level is spot on. It is not brilliant, but it is not bad. It is important we are completely debt free and I think the supporters appreciate that.”

Sutton host Zamaretto League South & West Division outfit Uxbridge in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday, hoping to emulate last year’s run to the first round proper that brought League Two Notts County to the Lane.

“There is £4,500 up for grabs. A good run in the cup is very important for this football club. My aim for this season is to secure a play-off spot and have a good run in either the FA Trophy or FA Cup,” Doswell added.

Sutton’s next three games: Sept 26 Uxbridge (h), Oct 3 Aveley (a), 10 Tooting & Mitcham (h).