Boss Paul Doswell reckons seeing his Sutton United side likened to Premier League Stoke City can only be taken as a compliment.

Kingstonian manager Alan Dowson cheekily made reference to United’s use of long-throw specialist Billy Hawes this week by comparing Doswell’s men to the Potters.

The Kingsmeadow chief has issued a statement clarifying his comments and has called his Ryman League Premier Division collegue to explain.

But Doswell insists there are no problems between the pair before admitting he wouldn’t say no to a winning goal from the tactic in the play-off final.

“I get on well with Alan, he is a young manager with a tremendous enthusiasm for the non-League game, which is just brilliant. I like that. He’s been on the phone to me twice about his comments, but I see them only as a compliment,” he said.

“Stoke are more than just a team that relies on Rory Delap's long throws, to say that is a discredit to them and Tony Pulis. They have scored some tremendous goals this season.

“We have used set-pieces and Billy Hawes' long throw, but it is more to give the opposition something else to think about and to create pressure.

“It is a weapon and of course you are going to use it. If we score direct from one to win the play-off final I don't think there will be any complaints.”

Meanwhile, Dowson has moved to clarify his comments made after watching his side brush past fellow play-off hopefuls Boreham Wood 4-1 on Sunday, as he singled out United as a threat to their play-off hopes.

And he was quick to play down the signifance of the meeting between the two teams on April 3.

"Yes, they throw the ball in there, but they don't just rely on that," he said.

"The truth of the matter is they are a good side and like to play football the right way.

"The last thing I want is for the Sutton game to be built up into to something that it isn't.

"There are still a lot of games to go, before and after that."