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More on KentOnline
Deal Town aren’t prepared to take any risks with their senior players during their short break from league action.
Their Velocity Cup game at home to Hythe Town last night (Tuesday) is followed by another midweek fixture when they host Sittingbourne in a Kent Senior Cup first-round tie next Tuesday.
More: Isthmian League weekend round-up
With no league fixture this Saturday, the focus for manager Steve King is on preparing the team to get back to Isthmian South East action when Eastbourne Town are due to visit on September 28.
The Hoops will be looking for a positive result in the league after back-to-back defeats, losing 2-1 at home to Beckenham Town at the weekend after last midweek’s late 2-1 reverse at Margate.
“It was the most disappointed I have been this season,” said King, reflecting on the weekend’s loss.
“I thought we were the better side throughout the game but let in a couple of sloppy goals.
“I don’t think Beckenham created many other chances in the game other than their two goals.
“They are a team full of confidence (sitting top of the table) and going well and for the first time in quite a while we are lacking a bit in confidence. We created numerous chances, hit the bar, and should have scored three or four.
“No disrespect to Beckenham at all because they have had a brilliant start, but I don’t think on paper they have a better side than we have got and I think in the previous games, against Margate, Ashford, Ramsgate, they are all very strong, experienced step 4 sides with big budgets.
“Beckenham were similar to ourselves - a talented side but they are not signing players with loads of Football League experience, etc. It was a game, certainly from being 1-0 up, that I would have expected us to win and although we created a lot of chances we didn’t take them.
“For me, there is no real excuse and it was probably the first time this season that I have been disappointed with what happened.”
Isthmian South East League table
Macca Murray had put the Hoops ahead from the penalty spot after seven minutes but Becks hit back in the second half.
Deal had been in front against Margate, too, Aaron Millbank giving them a 51st-minute lead, but the hosts hit back straight away and won it six minutes into added-on time.
For King, it’s been a frustration to see his side take the lead in all six league games and come away with nine points.
He said: “The ones we’ve lost we were 1-0 up against Ramsgate and missed a penalty, we lost away at Margate and we were 1-0 up, and we lost on Saturday when we were 1-0 up and the three games we won, we scored the first goal.
“We have been in a position to win every game and we have only won three out of six. That is something that is a big learning thing for us. That is where the frustration is coming from.
“We need to be a bit more streetwise and tighten up defensively to turn those good starts into points.”
King will hope the weekend off will be a chance for some of his players to get back to fitness.
Tom Chapman was missing at the weekend, Ashley Miller could only make the bench, Rory Smith was “half fit” and Jamie Kennedy was unavailable.
King won’t be taking any risks with his players in the cups as they focus on next weekend.
He said: “We made a conscious decision when we came up that the cups weren’t going to be a priority for us and so we will give some of the squad players an opportunity to play.
“We will be making sure we look after people for Eastbourne on the 28th.”
The Hoops beat Hythe 2-0 last night (Tuesday) with goals at the start of both halves, scored by Ife Oni and Jack Penny.
