DIRECTOR of football Dave Malone has credited ‘the two Pauls’ with leading Winchester City to the Southern One South & West play-off semi-finals with a smile on their faces.

He reckons the key to the Citizens going above and beyond expectations this season is that manager Paul Masters and his assistant Paul Wiltshire are steering a happy ship.

Saluting the two ex-Saints midfielders ahead of tomorrow's (Tuesday) big one-off semi-final clash at league runners-up Banbury United, Malone said: “We’re a happy club and a big part of that is the two Pauls get on really well.

“Despite what people might believe, we work within a tight budget for the league we’re in, probably less than half a dozen Wessex clubs, and we've done a good job keeping everyone together as a unit.

“Paul and Paul are both very good man managers, which is important at this level of football.

"The pair of them are a dream to work with.

“We’ve had our moments because I’m that sort of person, but for 99 per cent of the time we’ve been a very happy club.

“Hardsy (Neil Hards, City’s 2004 Vase/Wessex double-winning manager) was very good with the players and, to be fair to the two Pauls, they’ve done the same.

“Dave Rowland has been a good add-on (since joining from AFC Totton). He’s done his coaching bit and that’s helped as well.”

Considering Winchester, last season’s Sydenhams Premier runners-up, were not promoted until mid-June, they have done a remarkable job to finish fifth in their first season back in the Southern League.

Both sides are on song heading into tomorrow's showdown, with Winchester on a nine-match unbeaten league run while Banbury have won seven and drawn one of their last eight.

Describing himself as “optistimic without being cocky”, Malone said: “I thought we’d be good enough to finish mid-table, but then we got off to a flying start and we’ve been in the top five or six all season.

“We whipped Banbury 4-0 at home and, in my opinion, were unlucky to lose 2-1 at their place.

“Anything could happen tomorrow. On our day, I believe we’re the best side in this league, but on a bad day we’re average.

“We’ll go there and give it a go because that’s the only way we can play.

“If we don’t win, we don’t win. It’s not life or death for us, we’ve had a good season come what may, but we want to give it a good crack.

“Much depends on who turns up. If, say, Warren Bentley or Andy Forbes do something special or Jamie Barron puts in a performance, we stand every chance.”

Tomorrow’s victors face the winners of the other semi-final between Taunton Town and Swindon Supermarine on Bank Holiday Monday (May 2, 3pm) at the home of the highest-placed club.