Manager Derek Hares has welcomed a free midweek for Deal.

It is the first time the Hoops, fourth in the Southern Counties East Premier Division, have not played three games in a week since January.

Deal lost 1-0 to promotion-chasing Sheppey last Tuesday in the league and will face the same opposition again next Tuesday night - this time in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

The Hoops responded from their defeat to Ernie Batten’s men, though, beating struggling Tower Hamlets 3-1 last weekend.

Hares said: “When we have lost games, I think pretty much every time we have bounced back pretty well.

“The Sheppey game, we conceded after 25 seconds but there wasn’t a lot in it after that. They probably edged the first half, but we probably edged the second half.

"So it’s not like we were coming into Saturday on the back of a bad performance.

“It’s nice to have a break this midweek. It’s difficult when everybody is working.”

Hares conceded Deal were not at the full tilt as they got the better of Tower Hamlets, with in-form Connor Coyne, Sam Wilson and Macauley Murray scoring. It was an eighth goal in six for Coyne and a 13th of the season.

“It’s always a no-win game really,” Hares reflected.

“Everybody expects you to win and score five or six but it’s never that easy.

“They are fighting for their lives and they have got some good players. It was not our best performance but it was a comfortable win in the end.

“Once we got the second goal, you couldn’t see them getting back into the game but, at 1-0, anything can happen. We didn’t get our third until right near the end but that was a lovely goal by Macauley Murray.

“We were not at our best but give credit to them, they are a good side. I don’t know why they are towards the bottom of the league.”

Deal travel to Tunbridge Wells this Saturday, having lost just twice on their travels this term.

Hares commented: "It’s always a tough game up there.

"They are pretty well supported themselves. But as always, if we put in a good performance, we have a chance."