Deal’s players have the bit between their teeth as they prepare to visit Corsham - again!

The Southern Counties East Premier Division Hoops were due to face the west Wiltshire side last Saturday but, having even stayed overnight beforehand, the FA Vase Fourth Round tie was called off just before 1pm due to an unplayable pitch.

They’ll try to do it all over again this Saturday and Deal boss Steve King said: “Having had a wasted journey, the boys have the bit between their teeth.

“We now need to travel but, if we don’t get caught up in road problems, we’ll be there in plenty of time.

“If we knew 100% it would be on, we would think about it [staying over again].

“But having seen the pitch when we left, there’s a lot of work to do to get it playable this week.”

On the late postponement, King added: “I cannot comment too much because I wasn’t at the ground on Friday morning.

“They were very confident it was playable but the pitch was nowhere near playable on Saturday, although that was after quite a bit of rain.

“It’s very difficult.

"But it’s the weather at the end of the day and we cannot control it.”

The rescheduling of the FA Vase match means Deal’s home Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final against Division 1 Snodland - due to be played this Saturday - will now be on Tuesday.

That makes it a massive few days ahead for the Hoops.

King said: “That’s our aim - to try and win both games.

“A couple of loan boys will be back on Tuesday. Troy [Howard] and Alex [Green] cannot play on Saturday.

"We’re either going to carry momentum into it or going out to put things right. The motivation for Tuesday doesn’t worry me.

"If you asked Snodland, they probably would have preferred to play on Saturday.

“It’s just about the recovery time and, hopefully, we don’t get any knocks on Saturday.”

A home draw against Raynes Park Vale or Brixham AFC await the winner of Deal’s clash at Corsham.

“It adds a little bit of excitement,” King said.

“We know we have got a home draw. If we win that, then we’re into the Quarter-Finals.

“But last weekend we were underdogs, so I think we’re even bigger underdogs this time.

“We know a bit about Raynes Park Vale but we will not worry about that.

“I wouldn’t say we have a massive advantage. It’s the same for Corsham.”

Another small positive to take from the rescheduling of their Vase contest is it will give a couple of their troops carrying knocks another week to recover.

“We had a couple that would have played, but weren’t 100%,” King said.

“It gives them another week. We can take that as a small bonus.”

Deal’s coach for their rearranged trip to Corsham will leave the Charles Sports Ground at 7.45am, with a pitch inspection expected to be held prior to their departure.