Pat Harding admits he still has to pinch himself sometimes to check he is not dreaming.

Just over two years ago Harding was playing in front of a handful of fans for Hassocks in the Sussex County League and now he is strutting his stuff in the top flight of non-league football.

Last Saturday Harding scored his second goal in three games in front of almost 4,000 supporters at Oxford United’s impressive Kassam Stadium as Eastbourne Borough went down to a breathtaking 6-3 defeat.

His amazing journey continues tomorrow when Blue Square premier pacesetters Cambridge United visit Priory Lane hoping to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Yet despite the fact the 24-year-old is one of the first names on Garry Wilson’s team-sheet every week Harding is still having to prove his doubters wrong.

He arrived at Borough in the summer of 2006 with a prolific record of 112 goals in 164 games for Hassocks with many questioning whether he would make the grade at Conference south level.

After establishing himself as a regular in the play-off winning team last season he is now having to silence his critics again by showing he is not out of his depth in Blue Square premier.

Harding, who has since been converted to a wide midfielder, said: “The whole thing is a bit surreal really. It has been a challenge going from the County League to where I am now but my philosophy is that if you work hard you get your rewards.

“I’m loving it this year. It is great to experience being part of the top flight of non-league football and just to start games is quite an achievement for me because we have such a good squad here.

“I’m aware of what some people say about me but they have their own opinions and there is nothing I can do about that. The main thing for me is what the managers think and if they are happy with my contribution that’s all that matters.

“I know what my capabilities are and my limitations as a footballer. I am not Christiano Ronaldo, I just work hard and try to do my best. The manager knows I put in 100 per cent in every game.”

Harding’s place has come under increased threat this season following the arrival of Mo Harkin but he got the nod ahead of the summer signing for the opening game against Rushden and Diamonds and then switched to the left wing in place of Matt Crabb for the last two outings.

He scored the opening goal in the historic 3-1 win at Stevenage Borough ten days ago – his 100th appearance for Borough – and enhanced his reputation for scoring vital goals from midfield at the Kassam Stadium.

Cambridge will provide another stern test tomorrow but Harding is confident both he and the team can build on their promising start to life in Blue Square premier.

Harding added: “I thought five goals for the season would be a good target so to get two in the first three games is a decent start and hopefully I can get a few more.

“I’ve not been too surprised with how we have done so far because we have got a good team. It has been encouraging but we are only three games in so we can’t get carried away.

“The fact we are underdogs is probably a good thing because we like proving people wrong. Basically all our team have to play on top of their game otherwise we will get found out.

“At Stevenage we played like it was a cup final and got the win we deserved but against Oxford we lapsed a bit and it came crashing down to earth.”

Borough are sweating on the fitness of influential defenders Marc Pullan and Ben Austin tomorrow. Pullan has responded well to treatment on the leg injury which forced him off at Oxford with the score at 3-3 while Austin has a hamstring problem.

Cambridge will be forced to change the team which has won all three games so far after skipper Paul Carden tore ankle ligaments in the 2-1 victory over Barrow last Saturday. Ben Farrell is likely to take his place in the centre of midfield.

Follow Borough live against Cambridge United tomorrow at theargus.co.uk/matchdaylive