4 hours Ago By [email protected] (Thomas Reeves)
Work to improve Deal’s defensive record is under way - and already bearing fruit. The Hoops finished seventh in an impressive inaugural Isthmian South East season, which ended with last weekend’s 5-0 home win against mid-table Broadbridge Heath. While Deal have 92 goals from 42 league fixtures, leaving them joint-third in the scoring stakes with Merstham and behind champions Ramsgate and second-placed Sittingbourne, they have shipped 81 - eight of the 15 below them let in less.
But Steve King’s side have already got to work on rectifying that issue in the run-in with three straight shut-outs. Asked if it’s an area they will aim to address over the summer, Deal manager King replied: “It will be - but that’s not necessarily just with players. “That will be in the way we set up and some of our organisation.
We have kept three clean sheets on the bounce and four in our last six games so the work behind the scenes has paid off. “We knew we needed to concede less goals, you didn’t need to be Einstein to work that one out. “But keeping three clean sheets is testament to the work we have done.
Hopefully, we will carry that on next season. “Like in all areas of the pitch, we will look to strengthen in the summer. But we won’t go out and sign a whole load of defensive players.
“In the last few weeks, we have shown we can defend better than we have done all season.” The Hoops had expected to finish eighth, even with victory over Broadbridge Heath, only to take advantage of a final-day slip-up by Three Bridges, held to a 1-1 draw by relegated Phoenix Sports. King reflected: “We’re really delighted to finish the season with such a convincing win against a good side.
“Broadbridge Heath had only lost five league games away from home all season. To get the win, and to win 5-0, that was great. “Obviously, it was a bit of a surprise with Three Bridges slipping up, but we’re really delighted to finish seventh.
” Patience proved vital as Deal had to wait more than 55 minutes to break the deadlock in front of a crowd of 763 at the Charles Sports Ground before they really cut loose. “Our pitch has been difficult for probably five or six weeks now where we’ve not had a huge amount of rain,” King explained. “It was really a case of wearing the opposition down.
Even at 0-0 at half-time, we were fairly pleased. We’d had the better chances and they hadn’t tested us too much. “We did say to the lads we could win 2-0 or 3-0 if we got the first goal - but, obviously, we didn’t expect it to finish 5-0.
“But having Rory Smith and Ife Oni on the bench, that gave us firepower and it was a brilliant way to finish the season in front of a good crowd.” A brace by top scorer Tom Chapman, taking him to 24 goals this term, was sandwiched by a goal for brother Ben. Substitutes Ife Oni and Owen Wilkinson got in on the act late on.
“As I’ve said many times, he has been brilliant,” said King. “He hasn’t suffered any injuries, which has been good. “He has been a threat all season.
It was nice for him to finish it off the way he did on Saturday. It was well deserved.” There was also a substitute appearance for injury-hit forward Rory Smith, playing his first senior fixture in a month.
King said: “He was outstanding when he came on. “We weren’t going to risk him where he has been struggling with his groin. But he said he wanted to play in the week and we had a few that were struggling a bit.
“I’ve said many times that a fit and firing Rory Smith is as good as any player in this league. “I’m just hoping, as he is, he can have a run of 20 or 25 games. He has been frustrated, but he’s still been a big part of the group.
“If he can have a season like Tom has had, Tom has had his injury problems in the past, but he didn’t pick up any all season. “If Rory can do that, he’ll be a huge player.”.
