Billy Smith reckons leading his Tooting & Mitcham side to the Ryman Premier play-offs this season will rank alongside any achievement in his 50 years in football.

Tuesday night’s 2-1 win at Sutton United, Tooting’s second away win in the space of four days, hoisted the Terrors up to fifth in the table.

And the 66-year-old feels his patchwork squad deserve all the plaudits they get.

Smith said: “To be in the play-off places is a massive achievement when you look at some of the wage bills in this division.

“I do not think we will win the league but I certainly think we will be in with a shout in terms of promotion.

“We have such a small squad and at times it really is a case of mix and match.

“But the spirit here is tremendous - players know I will give them a chance and although we do not pay much we do everything we can to make them feel comfortable.

“I demand a lot of the players and they respond - at the moment I am asking them to pull up tress and they are doing it.”

A Tooting side, fresh from seeing off Bognor Regis 3-0 on Saturday with goals from Paul Vines (two) and Simon Parker, but missing Jamie Byatt, Colin Hartburn and Allan McLeod delivered the goods at Gander Green Lane thanks to first-half goals from former Sutton player Sam Clayton and Parker.

The Terrors had to withstand a late Sutton fightback after Mitchell Nelson was red-carded, and Smith admitted his side had struggled to keep the pace.

He added: “I had a few players out there tonight that have not played for a while and I knew we would get tired.

“But in the first half I thought we were excellent and deserved our lead.

“I thought Dave King played out of his skin last night, and that is what he is capable of.

“We are back in the thick of it now - now we have to get our home form sorted and kick on.”

Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Dec 5 Maidstone United (h), 12 Hastings United (h), 14 Sutton United (SSC, h)