Paul Doswell was delighted with both the result and performance in Sutton United’s win at Horsham last Tuesday that saw them climb to third in the Ryman Premier League.

“'It was a great result and a great performance,” said Doswell.

“We played on a particularly heavy pitch on Saturday, and compared with what we've been used to this was a bowling green so we decided to change the tactics and go with pace and with people who could pass the ball.

“Danny Phillips has been an unfortunate casualty of the pitches recently – I don't feel he can play on our home pitch at the moment and even some of the away pitches haven't been great.

“So it was good to be able to bring him in fresh, and Bradley Woods-Garness as well, and the players that came in to the team that haven't been in it recently did a first class job.

"I think it also highlights the need for a depth to your squad.

“There were a lot of tired people after Saturday's game.

“We rested Steve Perkins completely tonight, and Kes, who had picked up a dead leg, while Steve Watts and Charlie Taylor both had twisted ankles, so there was a need to bring in players who could do a job for the team and I thought they all gave a sterling performance."

Bradley Woods-Garness had a fine return to action, scoring the second goal in only his second league start of the season.

Doswell added: "Bradley and I have got a brilliant relationship.

“The reason he has had to go out on loan is that he picked up niggles in pre-season which meant he never did the pre-season as he would have liked and we had to send him out to get first team games.

“I have never lost confidence in him, and I thought he was fantastic in the first half.

“His work rate was excellent, he scored a great goal and he linked well with Sam Gargan."

The second half saw Sutton come under a bit more pressure, which Doswell was expecting although he was unhappy at the goal United conceded, and by their failure to have killed the game off by then.

''We said to them at half time that, as well as we'd played, Horsham Wood tactically had got it wrong and that their manager was bound to change it.

“In fact, I was surprised he didn't change it a lot earlier, but he went to a 4-4-2 that gave them an impetus going forward.

“If I am frustrated at anything it's that we talked about being more clinical and finishing games off, and I counted another four or five chances to get the third goal and to have made the closing stages not the problem that they were.

“I thought the referee and assistant were scandalous as regards the goal.

“Billy Hawes has got seven stud marks around his ankle, and the lad should have been sent off as he'd already been booked, but from that they broke and scored.

“The player that should have been sent off scored the goal and we ended up under pressure, as you will do when you come away from home and things are flying in to your penalty area, but ultimately there was only one team that deserved to win and that was us."

There was also a return to action for Anthony Joseph following his loan to Margate.

''If he's going to be on the pitch you've got to get on the end of what he's doing and there's got to be an end product,” added Doswell.

“From his point of view he's done everything right, he's shown great pace and he's got the ball in to the box, but we've got to be finishing those chances and killing teams off."

Doswell said that he isn't surprised at United recent good form, which has seen them unbeaten in their last seven league games.

“I have felt we've been right for six or seven weeks, probably since we signed Francis Quarm.

“He's come in alongside Sonny Cobbs and we've looked very strong through the middle.

" think Matt Hann's hit form again and is back at the top of his game, which was important, and it was also important to get the skipper back, who's leads by example.

“So I'm very pleased, but it's not unexpected – I felt we'd get stronger as February and March came through I would get Alan Pouton back, as he will give another dimension to what we're doing.

"I th ink the first half today showed the people who came and watched us, and thanks to them as it's a tough journey on a Tuesday night, that we're a team that can pass and play with pace, and tactically I thought we got it spot on."