Boss Steve King has explained why Deal defender Jack Paxman took their missed first-half penalty in the Isthmian South East derby defeat to Ramsgate.

The Hoops went ahead in front of a club-record Bank Holiday Monday crowd of 1,895 at the Charles Sports Ground through midfielder Ben Chapman - and then won a penalty just seconds later.

Paxman, up against twin brother Alfie Paxman and his former club, was the man surprisingly chosen to step up, dragging wide.

It proved a key moment as Rams skipper Joe Taylor’s first of two penalties got his team level in first-half injury time before he netted twice more after midfielder TJ Jadama’s effort to leave Deal winger Tom Chapman’s second-half strike to be in vain in the 4-2 defeat.

On why Macauley Murray hadn’t taken the penalty, King said: “We changed that at the end of last season.

“Macca missed a couple and Jack Penny was on them, and he’s injured.

“Pax has been confident, he’s been practising them in training and we were happy with him on it - and it didn’t go in. It happens.

Report: Deal 2-4 Ramsgate

“People miss penalties, don’t they? Aaron Millbank hardly missed one before he came here and then he missed about three. I don’t know, maybe we’re a bit cursed?!

“Obviously, we also knew that Henry Newcombe was here with Hads (Ramsgate goalkeeper Tom Hadler) and he’s played with Macca a lot. So, we were aware that he possibly might know where he might go.

“It’s one of those things. If it goes in, nobody mentions it.

“It was a decision we made at training.”

Deal also had a shot cleared off the goal-line shortly after the penalty miss and were unlucky to not be ahead at the interval.

King reflected: “I thought we played really well, especially in the first half.

“It’s about big moments, isn’t it? You miss a penalty and then a sloppy clearance on 46 minutes ends up in you giving a penalty away.

“On Saturday, we had a similar situation at Broadbridge Heath (in a 3-1 win). We were 1-0 up and they missed a penalty and, five minutes later, we scored.

“Had they got it back to 1-1 on Saturday, we might not have won that. You just have to react to what happens.

“We know they’re an outstanding side but I thought we gave a good account of ourselves. We’re disappointed in mistakes that led to goals but they got punished.

“It was a difficult second half. They were bringing quality off the bench and we couldn’t get a foot on the ball. When you can’t get a foot on the ball, then you cannot get up the pitch. Then, it becomes difficult.

“We didn’t give up and I think we showed everyone who was here that we deserve to be playing at this level.

“Across the season, hopefully, we’ll do okay.”

Nevertheless, King was delighted to see his newly-promoted troops play in front of another bumper crowd and give a good account of themselves against a much more experienced side.

He said: “It’s probably one of the things that makes me proudest that we have got the club into a situation where they’re playing in these games, especially getting nearly 2,000 for a league game because you can have nearly 2,000 for an FA Vase semi-final and stuff like that.

“I’m sure the fans will be a bit disappointed but I’m sure they’ll understand the levels and what we’re up against. We haven’t rolled over and been beaten.

“We gave it a really good go. From where the club was eight, nine or 10 years ago, just playing in these games is a big achievement.

“What we want to do now is learn from it, try and get better, and try to establish ourselves at this level.

“That’s our next challenge.”

The Hoops will look to bounce back from their first league loss of the season at East Grinstead on Saturday.