Deal Town have had to double check their fixtures this weekend as Steve King’s side are not facing Craig Stone’s Ashford United after the Hoops met the Nuts and Bolts in successive fixtures last week in Isthmian League and then the FA Trophy – this weekend Eastbourne Town visit The Charles Ground.

Both ties ended in draws, but Deal won the Trophy tie on penalties taking Deal into the next round of the Trophy for the very first time and a home tie with Hashtag United. 

We have been talking to a delighted Deal boss Steve King. “When you play the same side twice – we drew 2-2 in the league on the Tuesday but going away to Ashford, we knew how tough that would be…”

“Saturday we made four or five changes and mixed it up a touch and I thought we played very well and did enough to win it and the prize money point of view from having a run in the competition as well as having a home draw in the next round which gives us something to look forward to!” 

“We did actually play in the Velocity on Tuesday with a very changed side – not to Ashford but to Whitstable – but in the Leagues and main cups we are one defeat in eight games I believe and certainly have picked up after a very poor start and we are much closer to where I would want us to be in terms of our performance levels!” 

“It’s the furthest the Club has ever gone in the Trophy; we equalled the Club record in the FA Cup last year; got the Club record win last season; got the highest League position; we are really proud of the group and to where we have taken the Club really.”

“Deal is a reasonably “big” Club now, but where we turned up ten years ago it wasnt really considered like that.”