Simon Johnson is determined to continue proving Eastbourne Borough’s critics wrong.

Plenty of people believed Borough could be in for another season of struggle in Conference south this year.

Manager Tommy Widdrington had been handed the second budget cut of his 18 months in charge, last season’s top scorer Elliott Charles had left the club and signings were sparse.

But ten games into the campaign Borough are fifth in Conference south, playing good football and scoring goals, as proved by Tuesday’s 5-2 defeat of Farnborough at Priory Lane.

Johnson, a veteran of the side at 22 having made his debut back in January 2009, is playing with a smile on his face and producing some of the best form of his career.

He has already chipped in with five goals, including a couple of crackers, as well as adding a number of assists from his role just behind the lone striker.

The former England Schoolboys under-18s international insists the feelgood factor is running through the whole team as they prepare to travel to fellow Conference south side Ebbsfleet United for today’s FA Cup third qualifying round tie.

Johnson said: “We didn’t make many signings in the summer. Apart from Ian Simpemba and Craig Ross – the two known names – we kept it local and young and it has paid off.

“We have got more hungry as a team, we are all together and we have no prima donnas this year, whereas last year there were a couple who ended up getting thrown out by the gaffer. That helps having a side who want to be in it together.

“In training and going into the games we are so confident and it is showing. We are proving quite a lot of the critics wrong.

“The way we play is exciting to watch and hopefully the crowd are enjoying it because we are getting quite a few through the gate.”