Manager Garry Wilson admits Eastbourne Borough have exceeded all expectations after going fourth with a superb win at Weymouth.
Matt Smart scored a 50th-minute winner from close range at the Wessex Stadium after home keeper Jason Matthews parried a Danny Chapman shot.
Wilson said: "If you had said at the start of the season that we would be fourth bottom in March, I would have thought we would have a chance. But to be fourth top is way beyond all expectations.
"We are there on merit. We work hard as a side and we have put a great run of results together and now it is a case of trying to keep it going."
Victory leaves Borough looking favourites to secure a place in the top five as they widened the gap to the play-off chasing pack to six points following defeats for Thurrock and Hornchurch.
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