The early-season availability problems at Deal show little sign of dissipating any time soon.

Steve King’s Hoops have started their Southern Counties East Premier Division season with successive defeats, sandwiched by an FA Cup win.

They had some bodies back for their 2-0 cup triumph against Guildford City after an opening-day loss at Fisher but, with 12 unavailable again last weekend, they were beaten 2-0 at home to VCD.

Deal manager King said: “Maybe only Man City could miss a whole XI and not have it affect them!

“That’s no disrespect to the lads that did play. It was nice to have Kane Smith back but that was his first start since February.

“VCD did well, give them their dues. They celebrated like they had won the league. I get it, we’re a scalp now, but it’s just frustrating we cannot get out the side we want to.

“It’s going to be two or three weeks before we can do that.

“We just need to limit the damage.”

Kweku Ansah gave VCD a 40th-minute lead in front of a crowd of 419 at the Charles Sports Ground and, as the hosts looked for a leveller, Vincent Follea added a second four minutes from time despite Michael Aziaya seeing red on 79 minutes.

“I thought we played pretty well,” King reflected. “We just didn’t take our chances.

“We had them camped in at 1-0 and hit the post, then we made a mistake and they got their second goal.

“It’s just very difficult at the minute.”

Among those missing was young defender Alex Green (glandular fever) while frontman Riley Alford came off the bench but sustained a knee injury himself.

“We’re still having it assessed,” said King of Alford’s injury.

“It doesn’t look brilliant. He’s been struggling with his Achilles and we took a risk on him, but it looks like he might have done his medial ligaments.

“That’s not great but that’s how it’s going.

“If we had other people available, he wouldn’t have played! But he’s one of those that always says ‘Let me help’.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Deal’s depleted squad.

They visit Snodland tonight in the league and are at another newly-promoted Premier Division outfit, Lydd, in the FA Cup Preliminary Round this Saturday.

King said: “They’re two sides that have been promoted and, to be fair to them, they’ve invested heavily.

“If you look at the squad Snodland has got, it’s quite scary. They have people like Francis Babalola, Henry Muggeridge and Matt Gething.

“But we have a few players back for that.

“Lydd, there’s a few players there that we couldn’t afford in the summer. They’re two big tests.

“But I’ve been around this division for a long time.

“I thought we should have won the game on Saturday, despite all the problems we’re having.

“It’s frustrating but we will keep going and find a way.”

The winners of the FA Cup tie between Lydd and Deal will earn £1,444 in prize money.