Boss Steve King conceded his Deal side weren’t at their best as they won at home to Cobham to progress into the last 16 of the FA Vase on Saturday.

A goal in either half from midfielder Ben Chapman and forward Rory Smith, both from set-pieces by left-back Jack Penny on his 150th club appearance, were enough to see them to a 2-0 win.

“I thought it was a tough game. We knew it would be,” reflected King, who gave a debut start to winger Ashley Miller and picked James Tonkin in goal with Henry Newcombe (knee) out injured.

“No side gets to the Fourth Round of the FA Vase without being decent. We had done our homework and expected it.

“I thought we were a little bit scrappy, first half, and just didn’t quite kill the game. But the pitch was difficult and I thought we were pretty comfortable in the end.

“It was a clean sheet so I’m delighted for Tonks, who was back in goal. I thought he was outstanding.

“He’s a very good goalkeeper - we know that - and he made a brilliant double save with 10 minutes left. Ash Miller on his debut was excellent.

FA Vase report: Deal 2-0 Cobham

“We’ve been better, people would have seen us play better, but we’re through. We’ll take it and it keeps the good run going.”

It was a 10th goal of the season for Chapman while Smith moved to 13 goals this term.

King said: “I’ve consistently said that, as much as it’s nice to have a 40-goal-a-season striker, if they get injured or you lose them, everything can fall apart. We’ve added in Miller now.

“That was Rory’s 13th of the season and Ben Chapman is on 10. Azza (Aaron Millbank) has got 17 and we also have people like Tom Chapman - and Macca Murray will always score goals - so it’s nice to be able to share them around.

“I think that’s a strength of our squad.”

Penny’s left foot earned both assists as the in-form Hoops made it 11 wins from 12 fixtures in all competitions - sending in a corner on 16 minutes and an in-swinging free-kick to the back post for Smith just after the hour mark.

King noted: “He’s quality, isn’t he? They were quality deliveries and I thought we attacked them both well.

“Our delivery was good all afternoon. What I was really pleased about is people say (it’s about) ‘set-piece, set-piece’ but we work really hard to win a lot of set-pieces. The more set-pieces you win, the more you’re going to score.

“Sometimes, we get labelled as a set-piece team. I think, well, yeah - we’re good at executing them because we work on them in training - but if you earn eight, nine, 10 or 11 corners each game, you’re going to have a good chance.

“I thought that was the case today.”

Another decent crowd of 716 watched Deal, 2000 FA Vase winners, get the better of their Combined Counties Premier Division South visitors.

“Our support has been excellent,” said King, whose promotion-chasing Southern Counties East Premier Division team will return to league action with a derby at Lydd on Wednesday. “I’ve said that numerous times.

“To have more than 700 on a cold January day, we’re really pleased with that.

“Any time you turn up and watch Deal Town under my coaching staff and myself I hope people see a committed side that gives absolutely everything.

“They know we will never roll over and will give absolutely everything that we can. I think that’s why a lot of people enjoy coming and watching us.

“We don’t have a big turnover of players. We have a loyal group, who are local.”

The FA Vase Fifth Round is due to be played on Saturday, February 10.