Oxford City player-manager Justin Merritt hailed his side's battling qualities after they clinched promotion to the British Gas Business League Premier Division on Saturday.
Mark Bell's 34th-minute strike was enough for City to defeat Uxbridge 1-0 at Court Place Farm, and Merritt, who with assistant Mike Ford took over in the middle of last season, was overjoyed.
"We were critisised for playing a weakened team when we lost at Marlow in our final league game last Saturday, but I think that decision has been vindicated," he said.
"It was a very tough game, but I thought we defended superbly - we stuck to what our jobs were and got on with it.
"I don't like singling players out for praise, but I thought Mark Avery and Andy Gunn were excellent. Nothing got past them.
He added: "I'm chuffed to bits - but as for next season, I'm going to let the dust settle.
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"There have been times this season when we thought it wouldn't be us, but the players have worked so hard for this.
"The challenge now is for us to bring the players on a step further because the Premier Division is a different ball game.
Ford added: "I felt we won promotion on Wednesday against Didcot.
"Anyone watching from Didcot today would have been thinking they could have beaten Uxbridge.
"It wasn't the greatest spectacle, in fact it was a bit of an anti-climax, but we saw it out.
"The Premier Division does have a very nice ring to it! We have played in games this season where we haven't been at our best, but we have dug out a result.
"I don't care what anyone says, we deserved it. You don't go up by fluke. You get out of football what you put in. Sometimes you get a kick in the wotsits, so you have to enjoy days like this.
"We will have a great night, or a couple of nights, but the work starts again on Tuesday.
"We've got a few things in place and will be bringing in new faces, so the players need to know that if they want to be here, the bar has now been raised."
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