Derek Hares admits Deal Town’s poor form has left everyone despondent but he still feels they can turn their season around.

Hares, presiding over one of the worse runs in his time in charge, said: "We are all depressed about what’s happened but the players are still turning up for training and working hard to try and put things right.

"If we start scoring some of the chances we are creating, it will be a different game. I also think in the last couple of games we have played without a bit of luck. We played well at Corinthian and the first half was pretty even.

"We certainly created more chances than them and they didn’t really test our ‘keeper but as at Herne Bay the week before, we played without a bit of luck."

Hares was chasing another forward this week, ahead of the Safety Net Kent League, Premier Division home game against Erith & Belvedere on Saturday.

The Deres thrashed Lordswood 7-2 last week, with Marcus Cassius grabbing a first half hat-trick. They beat Deal 4-2 at Park View Road in October, at the start of their poor run which has seen them lose nine of their last 10 games in all competitions.

Hares added: "It’s another tough game but I always think they are a stronger at home."

Adam Govey and Jake Eastwood will return to the squad, after dropping out before the Corinthian game with a stomach bug which left Hares with only youngsters Sam Pain and Luke Bigginton on the bench.