The focus is back on league matters for Deal after cup success.

Steve King’s Hoops need to progress through four more ties to get to a Wembley final having reached the last 32 of the FA Vase on Saturday, winning 5-4 on penalties at nine-man Sporting Bengal after a 2-2 draw.

That triumph came after Deal had progressed in the Kent Senior Trophy against Glebe - but there’s a massive Southern Counties East Premier Division derby in store for them this Saturday at Whitstable.

Deal boss King said: “To be fair, we are playing Saturday-Saturday. Obviously it feels like a while since we played in the league.

“It’s frustrating when those around us are picking up points and we are not because we’re not playing.

“But it’s not like we are overloaded with fixtures at the minute. We will be fully prepared for Whitstable and then have K Sports at home after that.

“We will put the cup competitions to bed for the time being.

"We need to try and string a couple of wins together to keep ourselves in and around the top-end of the table.”

Both ninth-placed Deal and Whitstable, who are a point better off in eighth, had ambitions of earning promotion this term but find themselves in mid-table, although the Hoops do have games in hand on most.

Deal won 2-1 when they met at the Charles Sports Ground in September, although the Oystermen have since changed manager, with Marcel Nimani at the helm.

“It’s another big one,” said King.

“We have had a really tough run in the league - we’ve had Stansfeld, Erith & Belvedere and have Whitstable coming up.

“They have had a change of management team since we played them at home but we know a lot of their players. We know Marcel well from his time at Sheppey.

“It will be a tough test against Whitstable, they’re a good side.

“They probably have had more time to prepare but we will get our heads down and be ready to go for Saturday.”

On-loan Dover defender Alex Green is back in contention after missing their Vase triumph.

King explained: “It’s an FA Vase rule that contracted players cannot play [for loan clubs in the competition]. It’s a little bit frustrating because neither us or Dover realised.”

Midfielder Billy Munday and striker Aaron Millbank struck in the Vase last weekend, and although Bengal equalised at the death, the Hoops kept their cool, having lost on spot-kicks in the Challenge Cup to Southern Counties East Division 1 Lydd.

King reflected: “We were really pleased to get through.

“Obviously we decided to make life hard for ourselves with a 93rd-minute equaliser. The boys seem to like to do it the hard way at the minute.

“At Lydd, we lost the shoot-out. That was in the boys’ mind. But the boys’ penalties were good and Henry Newcombe made a good save.

“I’ve got to say that I’m not a particular fan of no extra-time and straight to penalties. It would have been 11 versus nine.”

And while Sporting Bengal had two players sent off, Deal kept their heads.

“We were very disciplined throughout,” King said.

“Obviously our opposition played in the manner they played in.

“We had Kane Smith out injured and Macca Murray had to go off at half-time ill. I think we only had one yellow in the whole game.

“To be honest, if we had not made that mistake at the end, it would be a 2-1 victory and well deserved.”

Next up for the Hoops in the FA Vase are Hellenic League Premier Division Corsham, although they won’t play them until January 14.

Asked what he knows about them, Deal’s manager replied: “Not a lot, other than YouTube videos I have managed to watch.

“We are disappointed not to get a home draw, I think that’s our fifth away draw.”

Defender Kane Smith missed the Vase win through injury and King expects it’ll be a couple of weeks before he’s fully fit.

He said: “I would imagine it will coincide with Alex’s initial loan ending.

"It’s a hamstring niggle but nothing major.”