ALAN PAYNE'S VIEWS AFTER THE PLAY-OFF EXIT AT WELLING

I think the team epitomised what Paul was after today – vibrancy, energy, quite a lot of know-how, and the way we set up and the way we wanted to play. We could have had egg on our face if we’d gone a goal down early on and had to chase the game, but we made plenty of good chances and I would have said we had about 75% of the play, and if you went out of a cup game like that you’d be particularly disappointed. We’ve got a lot of faith in these players, and they had a lot of faith in us today and we’re very pleased with them.

It needed as much brain-power as physical power today, and the top players like Downer and Telfer really came to the party and helped the youngsters through what was needed. Having said that, it was very difficult to find a poor player on the pitch today, from one through to eleven. Their two centre-backs were both outstanding and the ball seemed attracted to them at times, but having said that we stuck to our task and having done that we created four or five half-chances, and good chances in some cases.

I’ve said it before but without Paul Doswell here we wouldn’t be standing on the pitch having an interview after a play-off. He does a superb job, he’s very passionate about the club, he’s passionate about the players, and he looks after everyone. I’ve been in football many years, and a lot of the things he does are unseen and unsung, and he does a particularly good job. Sutton United wouldn’t be the same without Paul Doswell as manager.

After the double game against Corinthian Casuals for one victory, to play Woking will be a nice way to end the season, but today it was about what a good Conference South team we are, finishing in the play-offs after coming up from the Ryman League, and I think it’s a superb effort because we’ve made continuous improvement throughout the year. To make continuous improvement as a football club is difficult, but we’ve managed it.

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