Three second-half goals saw Deal come from behind to beat Sheppey for their third straight win on Saturday.

Gil Carvalho put the Ites into a first-half lead during the Isthmian South East match but Deal’s top scorer Tom Chapman equalised.

Defender Alfie Foster and substitute Rory Smith also struck after the restart as it finished 3-1 to the Hoops.

Deal had started well at the Charles Sports Ground as a couple of left-wing crosses from defender Alex Green caused problems.

Centre-back Lekan Majoyegbe appeared to head a ninth-minute free-kick straight at home keeper Adam Molloy in front of a crowd of 548.

Visiting goalkeeper Aiden Prall then had to be at his best to deny Tom Chapman on 18 minutes after a one-two with fellow forward Ashley Miller, Prall tipping over.

He once again had to be alert to gather Hoops captain Macca Murray’s corner under severe pressure on the half-hour mark as the wind continued to take hold.

But it was Ernie Batten’s side who went in front in the 41st minute.

Moments after he had whipped in a dangerous right-wing cross which youth-team forward David Johnson couldn’t quite get on the end of, Carvalho stabbed home a delivery from the other side via Molloy’s left-hand post for his eighth goal this season.

The home team went close to an equaliser, six minutes after the restart, as the rain started to bucket down. A Murray free-kick found its way through to Ben Chapman but he shot wide of Prall’s left-hand post.

But three minutes later, they did level. Miller stood up a cross from the right flank to a queue of players at the back post and Tom Chapman got enough on his header to find the net despite the best efforts of Prall. It was his 15th goal this term and his sixth in as many games.

Deal almost instantly went in front shortly before the hour mark, Miller not able to make contact with right-sided man Jack Paxman’s cross.

They were able to complete a third turnaround in as many matches, however, as a towering header from sponsors’ man-of-the-match Foster beat Prall for his first goal of the campaign.

Aiming to establish a two-goal cushion, Paxman’s 65th-minute header from a high Murray left-wing cross that had caught the wind whistled wide of Prall’s right-hand post.

Molloy was called into action to collect away attacker Carvalho’s 20-yard shot before Prall parried away Murray’s free-kick to keep his team in it with 71 minutes played.

Five minutes later, Johnson made contact with a high left-wing ball into the penalty box, only to direct his effort off target.

But the Hoops went two goals to the good in the 86th minute as substitute Rory Smith turned to get on the end of Ben Chapman’s header and blasted past Prall.

Midfielder Tommy Lamb came close to a debut goal as his long-range effort crashed against the crossbar.

But eighth-placed Deal had done enough to move within three points of the sixth-placed Ites - albeit they have played two league fixtures more than them - while Sheppey’s winless run extended to three games.

Home manager Steve King gave a start to ex-Gillingham midfielder Lamb, with Max Niblett also coming into the team, having recently returned from university.

Among those to drop out of the Hoops’ starting line-up from last weekend’s 2-1 away win over AFC Croydon were left-back Jack Penny and young forward Archie Hatcher, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

Midfielder Oluwadamilola Olorunnisumo came into the visitors’ team while newly-signed Vote Singha and Gabriel Mbambo were on the substitutes’ bench.

King’s side are at home against Herne Bay on Boxing Day while injury-hit Sheppey travel to leaders Sittingbourne.

Deal Town: Molloy, Paxman, Foster, Lamb (A.Smith 89mins), T.Chapman (Oni 90mins), Murray (Hatcher 87mins), B.Chapman, Niblett (Hennessey 76mins), Green, Miller (R.Smith 64mins), Vincent.

Sheppey United: Prall, Majoyegbe, Taylor, Goueth (Mbambo 78mins), Lambert (Barnes 89mins), Carvalho, Wyborn, Diallo, Johnson, McLeod (Aiye 69mins), Olorunnisumo (Singa 81mins). Sub not used: Opoku.

Referee: Josh Williams.

Attendance: 548.