Sutton United go into tomorrow’s clash with Chester riding the crest of a wave after Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Macclesfield Town at the Knights Community Stadium.

The U’s battled back from conceding an early goal to score twice in the last five minutes through Moses Emmanuel and Tommy Wright to take the points.

One of the key performers in Sutton’s impressive start to the season has been club stalwart Craig Dundas.

The powerful striker bagged his first National League goal and his 99th for the club in last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Tranmere Rovers prompting jubilant chants from the 120 Sutton fans in the crowd of 5,000 at Prenton Park of ‘Dundo’s gonna get ya.’

It was his first competitive goal for 18 months and his performance led to glowing praise from United’s manager Paul Doswell.

“He’s been an absolute legend at the club," said the Sutton boss.

"He’s reincarnated and the way he’s playing, he’s going to get to 100 goals.

“We thought that he wouldn’t be able to come back this season and, to a certain extent, I am sure he did too.

“But he’s worked incredibly hard on his fitness, he’s lost a stone and a bit in weight and reminds me of the Dundas of 25 or 26 years old.

“Craig and Ross Lafayette give us a massive physical presence up front. They’re a real handful and were outstanding against both Tranmere and Macclesfield.”

Now in his tenth season with Sutton, Dundas has been with the U’s through thick and thin.

Having first joined the club in November 2007, the 36-year-old was part of the side that suffered relegated to the Isthmian League in 2008 and has been a crucial cog in its rise to second in the National League, just a point behind early pacesetters Aldershot Town.

As has been well documented, the U’s have enjoyed an incredible last two seasons under Doswell by winning the National South title on the back of a 26-game unbeaten run, reaching the FA Cup fifth round as well as establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with in English football’s fifth tier, and Dundas is clearly proud to be a part of such a progressive club.

“It’s been magnificent, to be honest. Winning the league - especially when you consider how far behind Ebbsfleet we were at one stage - and then going on that record-breaking unbeaten run was fabulous.

“Then, last season, to go on that FA Cup journey - and to meet some of my heroes along the way - then to consolidate our position in the league, it was incredible.

“Ever since Paul Doswell come into the club [May 2008] it was always our aim to get into the National League, to have a really good Cup run and to play one of the really big teams. We’ve fulfilled all that in the last couple of years.”

Dundas has experienced what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a Sutton FA Cup upset during his time with Hampton and Richmond Borough.

In 2009, the U’s were drawn away to the Beavers in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round.

Sutton, then of the Ryman League, beat Hampton of the National South - the division above - 3-1 thanks to goals from Matt Hann, Sam Gargan and a penalty from Alan Pouton to earn a first round tie at Hereford United, then of the Football League.

Dundas, who scored against the U’s that day, said: “I remember it was a good game. I think one of Sutton’s goals was a dodgy ref’s decision after a handball.

“I wasn’t focussed about playing against my old club, I just wanted to get the win to progress in the Cup.

“I played well in that game and there was a good atmosphere but it was just disappointing to go out. I think I got off the pitch sharpish after the game.”

As well as Hampton, Dundas has also turned out for a host of other local clubs including Croydon, Dulwich Hamlet and Carshalton Athletic and had a spell on loan at Ryman League Premier Division side Tonbridge Angels last season.

Earlier in his career he even had the chance to play in Cyprus.

“It was the only time in my career that I’ve been a proper professional,” he said.

“I played out there when I was 24 or 25, I did pretty well and would have stayed but they didn’t pay bonuses, so we had a bit of a dispute.

“I had a chance to go back a year after but my family circumstances had changed by then.”

But it’s at the Knights Community Stadium where Dundas has certainly found his footballing home, having made more than 450 appearances for the U’s and bagged those 99 goals.

As well as being a thorn in the side of National League defences, Dundas also acts as the club’s fitness coach and it’s a role he sees as a natural progression.

“I’ve been doing the fitness training with the lads over the last couple of seasons and quite enjoyed it.

“It’s an easier transition to do it while I’m still playing and it’s a role I am looking to develop when my playing days are over.”

There’s no doubting the U’s are in great shape both on and off the field, despite having a lengthy list of injured players already this season.

They may have lost Roarie Deacon [to Dundee], Bedsente Gomis [Barrow] and Maxime Biamou [Coventry] over the summer but Doswell and his staff have recruited well.

Coming into the United set-up are established National League names such as Ross Lafayette, Moses Emmanuel, Aswad Thomas [all Dover Athletic], Simon Walton [Guiseley] and Anthony Jeffrey [Forest Green Rovers], and the United boss has added a sprinkling of fairydust with livewire attackers Tommy Wright and Josh Taylor already showing great promise.

“We’ve always had an experienced team,” said Dundas. “But now we have lads in the team who know what it’s like to play in the Football League such as Craig Eastmond [Colchester], Nicky Bailey [Middlesbrough] and Dean Beckwith [Northampton] which always helps with bringing in fresh ideas and helping the younger players.

“Having the 3G pitch has helped us build the club up as well, what with making the extra revenue and the club becoming a community hub."

So after the last two campaigns, what does the Sutton legend hope for this term? 

“We’ll see how we go this season. Obviously it would be nice to push on from what we did last season and perhaps be in the mix for the play-offs.

“If our away form had been better last season [Sutton only won twice in 23 outings] then we may have been banging on the door of the play-offs then.

“You can’t play forever so, on a personal level, it would be nice to get the 100 goals.”

Chester v Sutton United, Swansway Chester Stadium, Chester, Saturday, August 19, kick-off 3pm.

The U’s are next at home on August 26 when they face Maidstone United, kick-off 3pm.

Ticket details available at suttonunited.net