Midfielder Dean Lodge reckons Kingstonian are already showing signs of title winning form over the opening weeks of the Ryman League Premier Division season.

The 24-year-old winger netted a late winner as boss Alan Dowson’s men beat Margate at the weekend to remain in second-place behind league leaders Sutton United.

Ks, who received a bye into the next round of the FA Cup thanks to the withdrawal of crisis club Croydon Athletic, lost out in the play-off final to Boreham Wood last time out.

They must claim the title to ensure automatic promotion to the Blue Square South in Dowson’s fourth full season in charge at Kingsmeadow.

And Lodge, who has started the campaign in fine style with two goals to his name already, believes the signs are looking good.

“We didn’t deserve it at the weekend, so I suppose you can call it a bit of a smash and grab effort,” he said.

“Rob Tolfrey made quite a few good saves and we were able to sneak it in the end.

“That is what you have to do to win the title. We’ve done it a couple of times already this season.

“If we are going to win the league we’ve got to win the ugly matches and keep the momentum going.”

Manager Dowson insists he is looking no further ahead than the next game as expectations continue to rise following a promising start to the season.

But even he concedes his squad can only get better as the campaign begins to take shape.

“There are still people under-performing,” he added after the Margate triumph.

“We are not firing on all cylinders but there is something about the character of this team where they don’t know they are beaten. They just keep going to the end.

“I said from day one that we have got a lot of goals in us, in a lot of areas, but we’ve got to defend well and that is what we are doing at the minute.”

Kingstonian’s next three games: Sept 18 Maidstone Utd (h), 21 Hendon (a), Oct 2 Canvey Island (a).