Three wins in a row have given Deal Town a timely lift ahead of Saturday’s trip to Kent League surprise package Holmesdale.

The Bromley outfit, who only joined the league last season, are second in the Premier Division on goal difference and their 1-0 win at VCD last week confirmed they must be taken seriously as title contenders.

League points won’t be at stake this Saturday, however, with the two sides meeting instead in the revamped Premier Division Cup competition which, after having had an initial group stage for the past three years, has reverted to a straight knockout tournament played over two legs.

The second leg will be played at the Charles Ground a week on Saturday, and Deal manager Derek Hares said: “The main thing is that we don’t come back from this Saturday’s game having left ourselves too much do in the second leg.

“I am a little surprised at how well Holmesdale are doing this season, but any side who are second in the table after 11 matches must be taken seriously and we know it’s going to be a tough test for us on Saturday as we try to keep our little run going.”

Deal won 3-2 at struggling Lordswood last weekend but Hares admitted: “It was a little bit more difficult than we might have expected because Lordswood had a new manager and a few new players.

“And, to be honest, we weren’t great in the first half and they deserved their 1-0 lead, but we were all over them in the second half.”

Mark Pollard is available again after completing his suspension but Danny Smith is still banned. Grant Bagley, who was ruled out by work commitments for the Lordswood game, should return but Roy Godden (back) and Leon Ingram (knee) are both doubtful.