Sutton United boss Paul Doswell reckons March will define his side’s season and he hopes fit-again skipper Jason Goodliffe and midfielder Alan Pouton will play a full part.

Play-off chasing United drew 1-1 at Tooting & Mitcham at the weekend - thanks to Sam Gargan’s 74th minute equaliser - but will play nine games in 29 days next month following a succession of cancellations since the turn of the year due to bad weather.

Goodliffe has been sidelined - following knee surgery in January, but is close to a return having sat out just nine Ryman League Premier Division games since his last start in a 1-0 defeat at AFC Hornchurch on December 5.

Doswell’s men, who have lost just once in their last 11 games, have rarely been beaten with Pouton - also sidelined through injury - in the line-up this season and the Gander Green Lane chief is hoping the pair can be his lucky charm when they return next month.

“We are playing some decent stuff at the moment and have found that bit of consistency. With nine games to come in March I think it is going to be a defining month for everybody - not just us,” he said.

“We’ve managed our resources well. The money from the cup run and selling Stefan Payne has meant we’ve been able to bring back the likes of Bradley Woods-Garness and Anthony Joseph without breaking the bank.

“We are in a good position. Jason was close to playing at the weekend, so to have him back is a major boost. The cancellations have played in our favour in terms of him.

“He will come straight back in. He is my skipper. We brought him because we thought he was the best around and there is no way I’ll not play him.

“Alan should be around in a week or so. We don’t often lost with him in the side so we’re looking forward to having him back.”

Sutton travel to Ashford Town (Middlesex) on Saturday intent on gaining revenge for a 4-2 home defeat to the Tangerines in January - the last time they lost.

And Doswell is out to stretch their current unbeaten run to seven matches and silence the home crowd.

“We have won four and drawn two since losing to Ashford and if I’m honest we’d have liked to have turned those draws into wins,” he added.

“We owe them one for what they did to us at home. They scored from three long throws, but we’ve changed things around since then to have four big men at the back and we haven’t lost.

“We’re in good form and I’m expecting a good game.”

Sutton’s next three games: Feb 27 Ashford Town (Mdx) (a), Mar 2 Boreham Wood (a), 6 Maidstone Utd (h).