Striker Paul Vines believes Tooting & Mitcham will not make the same mistakes that saw them miss out on promotion last season.

Boss Billy Smith saw his side's hopes of claiming the Ryman Division One South title all but dashed with a 1-0 defeat to Sittingbourne at Imperial Fields on Saturday.

With Dover Athletic beating Corinthian Casuals 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points, Tooting are now eyeing another shot at the play-offs.

The Terrors lifted the Surrey and London Senior cups last season, but lost 2-0 to Hastings United in the play-off final as a run of five games in 10 days took its toll.

And Vines, whose side are still in the county cup competition, thinks his team-mates have learnt a lot from the disappointment of failing to win promotion.

"The players have to take some of the responsibility for last year because the management wanted to rest us for the play-offs," he said.

"You don't get many chances to play in a cup final and the boys wanted to play.

"I think we were running on empty by the time we came to the Hastings match.

"We have learnt a lot from the experience and I don't think you will see player power like that again.

"I don't think I would have swapped a cup winners' medal for promotion, but I have them in the cupboard now and this season it is all about promotion."

Vines notched 21 league goals last season for the Terrors, and the 13 he has this campaign has led to talk of a move away from Bishopsford Road.

League One side Millwall are rumoured to be tracking his progress, and the 24-year-old painter and decorator admits he has turned down overtures from other non-league clubs.

"The first thing I heard of Millwall being interested was when my name was linked with them in a London paper, but I haven't been approached yet," he added.

"The opportunity to turn professional may not come again at my age, so I would have to think about it carefully.

"Tonbridge Angels and Cray Wanderers have been interested before, but I have always said I would only leave Tooting for a higher level of football."