Deal Town are into a cup final for the first time since their 2000 FA Vase triumph - but all eyes are now on the league.

Manager Steve King targeted a cup final place at the start of the season but can now put that to one side as the club look to make a challenge for the second place spot in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

The Hoops face two tough challenges straight away, playing away to second placed Rusthall tonight (Wednesday) before heading to Hollands & Blair on Saturday for the Medway side’s first game on their newly installed 3G pitch.

King said: “We have put ourselves in a position in the league where we are a little bit behind the eight-ball for that second place, but it is still achievable.

“Rusthall are flying and we’re then going to Blair for their first game back at home, a big day for them and another big test. We have to lift ourselves again and try and get two results.”

Deal are currently seventh but cup success has led to them playing catch-up with some of the teams above. They still have Rusthall and fourth-placed Erith Town to play twice along with third placed Phoenix at home.

King said: “Footballers love playing and if you can get on a run and you are doing well, sometimes playing Saturday-midweek can be a good thing because that momentum keeps going. When it becomes difficult is when you lose one or two, you have to lift yourself, tired legs, it can work both ways at this time of the season.

"We have to try and keep the positive momentum going and take that into these two games this week.

"Although we are probably four or five points short of where we would want to be we do have the opportunity, starting on Wednesday night, to claw back on some of those teams above.”

Deal will be riding high on confidence after their 1-0 win over Erith in semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy. Riley Alford scored the 52nd minute winner to earn them a meeting with Punjab United in the final at the Gallagher Stadium.

King said: “That is going to be a really tough game, most people probably expected it to be Erith & Belvedere but it was a brilliant result for Punjab at the weekend (beating the Deres 1-0) and we know how good a side they are so we will be looking forward to that one, but we have 14 league games to play before it, lot’s for us to concentrate on before we worry about that in April.”

On his own team’s weekend success, he said: "We have been quite vocal about targeting a domestic cup final for the last year or two and the club hadn’t been to a club final since the FA Vase 23 years ago. We are really pleased to have achieved that aim.

“Erith have only lost once away from home in the league, they are flying high and we have a good home record, two pretty evenly matched sides. It was always going to be a tight kind of game but I think we were the better side on the day, we created more chances and were deserved winners in the end.”

James Tonkin was back in goal for The Hoops as he replaced regular stopper Henry Newcombe, who was suspended.

On the keeper situation, King said: “James Tonkin has been our goalkeeper for five years, he couldn’t commit this year because of work. Thankfully he was off work on Saturday, his only one off this month so the stars aligned for us. James did us a massive favour but Henry is our goalkeeper and he’ll be back in.”

Deal will be missing midfielder Macauley Murray after he aggravated an injury at the weekend, possibly putting him out for a couple of weeks.