Deal travel to meet Bulmers Cider Kent League leaders Faversham on Saturday with Derek Hares’ side in much better shape than he could have dared to hope little over a month ago.

The 6-4 defeat at Sporting Bengal on November 7 saw Deal slip to third from bottom but since then they have collected seven points from three games and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Umbro Kent Senior Trophy courtesy of Saturday’s victory over Norton Sports.

"The Bengal game was our only defeat in the last 10 matches," Hares said. "We are still unbeaten at home this season and the team are playing with a bit of confidence now.

"I know we didn’t play great in the first half on Saturday but neither did they. The conditions were difficult but we did a lot better in the second half and should have wrapped the game up in normal time."

Deal face a Faversham side who have led the Kent League table since the second week of the season.

Hares watched Faversham win 2-0 at Hythe in the FA Trophy on Tuesday and said: "The pressure is all on Faversham. The league is for them to lose and they know that we are one of the teams capable of beating them."

Scott Holden, on the bench against Norton, is likely to return to the starting line-up and Brad Ashmore will again play in goal in place of the suspended Paul Rogers.