In-form Deal secured a 10th straight win, earning a massive Southern Counties East Premier Division victory at frontrunners Faversham on Saturday.

The Hoops twice led in the first period thanks to goals from Rory Smith and Billy Munday, only to be pegged back by efforts from Sam Hasler and Stefan Payne.

But Steve King’s third-placed side got both second-half goals through a late Aaron Millbank brace to move within two points of Town - with four league games in hand!

It had taken Faversham frontman Payne less than 20 seconds to try his luck in front of a bumper crowd of 779 at Salters Lane, keeper Henry Newcombe well behind his long-range effort.

But the Hoops drew first blood in only the fourth minute with their first attack. Rory Smith steered in Tom Chapman’s low cross for his 10th goal this term after good right-wing play.

Six minutes later, home goalkeeper Lewis Briggs gathered a captain Kane Smith header from a Macauley Murray free-kick.

Town then levelled with 14 minutes played, as a training-ground move led to midfielder Hasler unleashing a free-kick which took a deflection that left Newcombe wrong-footed for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Hasler almost turned provider three minutes later, with defender Matt Newman sending his corner inches wide.

However, Deal re-took the lead midway through the first period as Munday powerfully headed a Murray corner beyond Briggs to once again spark big away celebrations.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued when recalled Faversham player Rahman Kareem nodded a right-wing delivery against the crossbar before desperate Hoops defending did just enough to clear the ball.

But the Lilywhites made it 2-2 on the half-hour mark.

Payne got on the end of a through ball and calmly slotted underneath Newcombe for his 21st goal of the season.

Briggs was then more confident than most, allowing Tom Chapman’s right-wing delivery to dip against his own crossbar in windy conditions, before Payne again got behind at the other end with 39 minutes played. But the 32-year-old was denied by Newcombe on this occasion.

Shortly before the interval, things threatened to spill over.

Hasler slid in with what initially looked like a strong - but fair - challenge, only for the midfielder to be booked for the tackle on Rory Smith.

A half-time Hoops switch saw Jack Hanson come on for captain Kane Smith.

After a slow start to the second period, Lilywhites captain Connor Essam made a crucial interception as fellow defender Alex Green whipped a cross into the penalty area with Essam’s team-mate, Newman, down on the floor with a back injury.

Striker Warren Mfula was introduced on 68 minutes in an attacking change for the hosts, replacing attacking midfielder Bennett amid a plethora of substitutions for both teams.

The next opportunity came five minutes later at the other end, though, as Tom Chapman fired over.

But the visitors crucially went ahead for a third time with 12 minutes left. The ball was worked into the area from the right wing and Millbank was given enough space to turn and fire in.

Looking for another leveller, Faversham moved Kieron Campbell into a more central position in midfield but he failed to hit the target before, in the 82nd minute, Hasler flashed a free-kick narrowly wide.

Essam put a meaty challenge in on Deal’s Rory Smith with five minutes to go and was cautioned for the tackle.

Newcombe did well to deny Mfula at the start of seven minutes of stoppage time.

However, the away side put the result beyond any doubt with 93 minutes played. A corner wasn’t cleared and Millbank - again - turned home for his 16th goal of the season to make it 4-2.

With Town now seemingly out of ideas, Newcombe again thwarted Mfula in the penultimate minute. There was still time for Hoops substitute Wes Hennessey to nearly net an incredible solo goal, only to fire wide when clean through.

Faversham still remain top at the end of 2023, with Glebe drawing 2-2 at Stansfeld, despite their loss and now being winless in their last three matches.

The hosts made three changes from the team which were pegged back at Whitstable last weekend.

Right-back Josh Vincent, who scored a late own goal at The Belmont, dropped to the substitutes’ bench alongside fellow defender Jake McIntyre and playmaker Nathan Wood. In came midfielder Billy Bingham - returning from a ban - fit-again Ashley Miller and versatile defender Kareem.

Away manager King named an unchanged starting line-up from their 2-0 victory over Bearsted.

Faversham Town: Briggs, Kareem (Vincent 60mins), Newman (McIntyre 60mins), Essam, Hasler, Bingham, Miller (Wood 73mins), Campbell, Parsons, Payne, Bennett (Mfula 68mins). Subs not used: O’Mara.

Deal Town: Newcombe, Oni (Niblett 79mins), Penny, Green, K.Smith (Hanson 46mins), Munday, T.Chapman, Murray (Hennessey 71mins), Millbank, B.Chapman, R.Smith (Reeves 90mins). Subs not used: Jefferys.

Referee: Howard Collins.

Attendance: 779.