Derek Hares concedes losing Deal’s top scorer Billy Munday to suspension will be a big blow for his team.

The midfielder was given his marching orders on Saturday after a late challenge during their 1-0 defeat away to Erith & Belvedere, meaning he is set to serve a three-match ban.

Following their goalless draw at home to Southern Counties East leaders Chatham on Tuesday, Munday will now miss the weekend home game against Rusthall, their Challenge Cup match at K Sports on Monday night and their league trip to Crowborough next weekend.

Hoops boss Hares said: "At least he will get the three games over in one week, if you like!

“But we are disappointed to lose him. He is our top scorer at the moment.

“But he did what he did and now he needs to pay the price.”

Deal finished their midweek match against the Chats with a numerical advantage, after the away side had skipper Jack Evans dismissed, but had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Meanwhile Deal’s defeat at the weekend, only their second away league loss all season, became a tale of two penalties.

Fourth-placed Erith struck through James Hawkins before Hares’ troops failed to convert a spot-kick of their own on the stroke of half-time when Macauley Murray’s attempt was saved.

“It was another very close game, either side could have won it,” reflected Hares, whose side lie in fifth.

“It was a game of few chances for both sides, really.

“I thought they probably edged the first half when there were two big moments. They were their penalty, which I thought was a penalty, which they scored, and our penalty, which we didn’t score.

“Second half, I thought we were the better side. We didn’t help ourselves having someone sent off but, to be fair, we responded really well to that but couldn’t break them down.

“It was just one of those games."

Munday was shown a straight red card after the restart but Hares commented: “To be honest, I thought it was a yellow and so I thought it (the red card) was a little bit harsh.

“But it happened right in front of their dug-out, where I had a good view of it.

“If it had been the other side of the pitch, it might just have been a yellow, although I’m not blaming the referee, who I thought had a decent game.”

Hares has injury concerns over striker Sam Wilson and the versatile Troy Howard but hopes to keep the nucleus of his squad fit for a busy period.

He stated: “We have Rusthall on Saturday and then we are away at K Sports in the cup on Monday.

"We have so much football coming up between now and the end of February so, hopefully, we can keep everyone fit.”

There was a minute’s silence before Deal’s match at Erith & Belvedere in memory of the Deres’ former player, Alfie Nunn, whose death was announced last Friday.

He was thought to have suffered a heart attack while playing in a match in Dubai, aged 35.