Ben Smith says Ramsgate’s pursuit of the Isthmian South East title feels more like a social event.

Rams moved on to 99 points at the top of the table with goals from Joe Taylor (2) and Alfie Paxman in a 3-1 win at Beckenham on Saturday.

They’re desperate to ensure a seven-point lead over Sittingbourne ends in championship glory but are having too much fun to be feeling any pressure.

“We’re excited to go to games, we’re enjoying what we’re doing,” said Rams boss Smith.

“It isn’t always perfect but I think we’ve accepted that.

“We’ve just got such a great group of people inside and outside the dressing room. It’s become a social event, I guess.

“It’s great seeing so many faces travel away with us and it’s like a jolly boys’ outing every week for those guys.

“Football is stressful but it doesn’t feel like that.

“The only thing we’re feeling is that desperation to win for all the efforts people have put in.

“I’ve never felt as united on all levels at a football club as I do right now this season.

“Whatever happened at the end of last season and in pre-season, that has brought everyone so close together and that bond is becoming stronger week by week.

“To have that, you realise what you might not have had in the past. Long may it continue.

“It helps when you’re winning games of football but there was no big expectation of we’ve got to win every single game.

“And when we have had road-bumps, it’s not been a disaster, it’s very much about us as a group evaluating and moving forward together.

“I’m the figurehead but everyone has massively played their part in that, my management team, the players, but also Seb Tidey (director of football), James Lawson (chairman) and Robert Hughes (secretary).

“What we’re doing as a group is incredible and it’s exciting to go to these games and keep testing ourselves because that what’s sport is about.”

Ramsgate have scored 113 goals in 37 games and they’ll clock up a century of points, too, if they avoid defeat at home to mid-table Broadbridge Heath this Saturday (3pm).

The numbers are phenomenal and that’s what it’s taken to be out in front.

“We weren’t far off 100 points last year (finishing runners-up with 89), said Smith.

“We’ve come back and drawn all our expertise together and, sharing the load, everyone’s been able to contribute.

“We’ve just got to keep taking it one game at a time which is what we’ve done since AFC Croydon on the first game of the season.

“Nothing’s changed at any point in the season in any of our mindsets.

“I hear people saying it’s the business end, it’s pressure time, but it isn’t.

“We will do as well as we do and whatever happens, we’ve had a great season. That’s our mindset.

“We will give it everything and if everything’s good enough, it’s good enough. If it’s not, then we look at the drawing board and start tweaking things.

“All I can say is we’re excited for Saturday, not just the game, but to see each other because it’s been so much fun.

“It’s not often, even when I’ve been successful, could I say it’s been so much fun.

“This year has very much felt like it’s a hobby.

“We’re having so many people joining that wave of euphoria and hopefully there’s a big crescendo to it.

“If there isn’t, I couldn’t look back and say it hasn’t been a great season because it has.

“But we want to win, simple as that.”

The Thanet derby against Margate on Easter Monday (April 21) is a 3,300 sell-out, hosts Rams have announced.