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Deal Town manager Steve King vows to stick by attacking principles ahead of tough Isthmian South East matches against Ramsgate and Burgess Hill Town

Steve King is vowing Deal will stick by their attacking principles - despite coming up against two big hitters.

The Hoops will start 2025 just outside the Isthmian South East play-off places in sixth and visit title-chasing Ramsgate on New Year’s Day before Saturday’s home game against fifth-placed Burgess Hill (both 3pm).

Deal boss Steve King - is vowing his team will stick by their attacking principles against Ramsgate and Burgess Hill. Picture: Paul Willmott
Deal boss Steve King - is vowing his team will stick by their attacking principles against Ramsgate and Burgess Hill. Picture: Paul Willmott

Deal have taken 13 points from their past five matches, thumping Lancing 5-0 in a dominant display last weekend.

And boss King said: “If we hadn’t have been on the run we have been on recently - and we were still on 28 points or something - we might have approached it differently.

“But we know we have got good players. Although Lancing are struggling a little bit, they have only really been beaten by the odd goal at home so scoring five goals against them was a big confidence-booster.

“We’ll try and take that form into Wednesday. If Ramsgate prove better than us on the day, then fair play.

“But we’ll go there, attack and try to win the game.”

While King hasn’t ruled out challenging for a top-five finish during the Hoops’ first season at the level, he stressed they are yet to reach their target in order to secure survival.

He said: “Our aim is still to get to 42 points.

"I know that sounds a bit stupid now we have picked up another seven and we’re very close - but we want to tick that off first.

“After Wednesday’s game, we will have played Sittingbourne twice, Ramsgate twice, Margate twice and Beckenham twice so we will have a run of games against teams either in and around that play-off picture or lower in the league.

“As we’ve proven recently, we know we’re a side that can string four or five wins together on the bounce.

"If we can do that, you just never know in January or February.”

All of Deal’s goals at Lancing came in the first half as Archie Hatcher, Ashley Miller, Ife Oni, Tom Chapman and Wes Hennessey found the net while fit-again Rory Smith cancelled out Herne Bay’s early opening goal against his old club in Boxing Day’s 1-1 draw.

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