There is a positive feeling around Sutton United this season, no doubt about it.

It was always going to be hard to raise hopes after the disappointment of last season, but we seem to have put it behind us judging by the performances of late, even though the results are not as good as they could be.

Credit must go to Paul Doswell – it’s never easy to bounce back from a poor year, but he and the club have achieved it both on and off the pitch fantastically.

The season ticket offer was a masterstroke, reflected in the crowds the club are now getting.

The first five league games brought an average attendance of 871, up 58.9 per cent from last season.

However, it is arguably the new signings that have brought about the most positivity so far.

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Tom Bolarinwa has been the stand out player for me - his pace and trickery giving us a major attacking threat with the potential to strike at any moment.

His goal in the Eastbourne game was a fine example of this – there appeared to be nothing on, but pressure on the defender forced the mistake and earnt us the goal.

It is this "something out of nothing" factor we seemed to lack last season.

The rest of the squad deserve mentions as well, the players retained from last season hugely stepping up their game and the new signings adding what we lacked.

It is too early to say whether we will make the play-offs or not, but there is certainly a degree of confidence among players, supporters, and management alike, and it is easy to see why.

* Sutton United host Oxford City tonight (Monday) at Gander Green Lane, kick-off 7.45pm.

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