Boss Steve King believes Deal’s Bank Holiday Monday clash at Kennington is about as tough as it will get this season in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.

The Hoops will visit Dan Scorer’s side as they return to league action, two days after their FA Vase First Qualifying Round fixture at Alfold.

Deal had mixed fortunes at Homelands last season, under former manager Derek Hares, beating them 5-1 in the first round of the Kent Senior Trophy before The Ton got revenge in March as they battled to a 1-0 win.

“It’s as tough as it gets in SCEFL to be honest, Kennington away,” King suggested.

“Dan has done a great job there. You don’t go there and beat them easily.

“We had a really good Kent Senior Trophy win but we lost there in March in the league. No-one needs to tell anybody at our club how tough it is to play Kennington.

“It’s a tough one, because we have the Vase on Saturday, but if we can get a result against Kennington, we will be really pleased because they are a really good side.”

Before then, though, it’s FA Vase action for Deal who travel to Southern Combination Premier Division outfit Alfold this weekend.

On what research he has done on Alfold ahead of the 220-mile round trip, King replied: “We have done as much work as we can.

“It’s been quite difficult with the way the fixtures have come out, they have been playing at the same time as us.

“But we have got reports and done as much as we can.

“We will focus on what we want to do but we will show them the respect they deserve.

"It’s another long journey for us. That’s three Saturdays away in a row, plus midweek at Egham, but we have got good players and know that we are a good side.

“The boys will want to respond and put it right.”

Deal’s FA Cup run ended 3-2 at Isthmian South East side Three Bridges last weekend despite a late comeback. The Hoops found themselves 3-0 down - having been awarded a penalty at 1-0 which was overturned - before late goals from Riley Alford and Aaron Millbank set up a tense finale.

King conceded: “We didn’t play as well as we wanted to. Obviously, we fought back and made it interesting at the end.

“We had a penalty overturned at 1-0, the referee had given it but changed his mind.

"So it’s frustrating in two parts. Firstly, our performance, and secondly, some of the decisions didn’t go our way but that’s football.”

Millbank’s effort was his first for Deal, who won 3-1 at home to Canterbury in the league last Tuesday through Tom Chapman, Ben Chapman and Rene Rivera.

“When a striker goes into a new club, I think they want that first competitive goal. We are pleased with that,” King said of Millbank’s goal.

“He worked hard all afternoon, we know there’s a lot more to come from him.

“Riley Alford got another, the nice thing is we are sharing the goals around because, if you become reliant on one player and they get injured, it becomes a problem.”

Deal will earn £550 in prize money if they win their FA Vase tie.