Boss Derek Hares believes Deal Town are heading in the right direction as they aim to end their season on a high.

The Hoops have exceeded expectations in the Southern Counties East Premier Division and will secure fourth spot with a positive result from their final fixture this weekend.

They will be looking to bounce back, having been hammered 7-0 at second-placed Chatham on Monday after a 2-2 draw with Punjab last weekend, a game that saw midfielder Billy Munday score twice.

More than 300 fans watched the draw at the Charles Sports Ground and Hares wants one last big crowd there on Saturday when Deal host Crowborough - entry to the ground will be free.

Hares said: “The season has been fantastic. The supporters have been brilliant.

“The club’s home crowds have gone up and up in numbers, it’s made a big difference for the players. We all appreciate it.

“The club - on and off the field - is going in the right direction.

“Yes, we have had a couple of bad results recently. But we cannot let that distract from the season.

“Obviously, we have been very good at home. Against every other team we have competed - apart from the top two.

"Hopefully we can finish on a high.”

Deal were well beaten at Chatham's Bauvill Stadium as they dealt with a host of players missing through injury, having only recently lost 7-1 to Sheppey.

Hares said: “It was the same story as the Sheppey game, really. They were better than us.

“We actually started well but they got a penalty that was never a penalty. I don’t think anyone else in the ground thought it was a penalty!

“I don’t think that’s the reason we lost the game but that did change the game.

“We had too many players missing, really, but we can’t use that as an excuse. Our squad just could not cope with them.

“We had as many chances as they did, but we didn’t take them and they did.”

Chats and Ernie Batten’s Sheppey are set to battle it out for the title this Saturday.

A Chatham win would see them move to 100 points - but even that won’t be enough for the league crown if the Ites defeat bottom side Tower Hamlets and finish on 102.

Hares stated: “I think both teams are probably as good as any team who have been in this league.

“They are both going to go up and I think they will both do well at that level with the players that they have got.”

Hares hopes to have some of his injured players back against Crowborough and will assess his squad at training tomorrow.