We knew we would have our ups and downs but on our day we are capable of winning any game, says Deal Town boss Derek Hares

DEAL TOWN manager Derek Hares says he is happy with the progress that is being made by his young team.

The club travel to Whitstable Town tomorrow in the Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals.

Deal Town are in tenth-place in the Premier Division table with 38 points on the board from their 23 games, while Whitstable Town go into the Belmont clash in third-place in the table with 46 points, seven points adrift of leaders Sevenoaks Town (who have three games in hand).

“It’s going to be a tough game, they are a good side with some good players but overall (assistant manager) Steve King and I have been happy with the progress we are making with this young side.

“We knew we would have our ups and downs but on our day we are capable of winning any game, so we are all looking forward to tomorrow night.  I am sure it will be a good game.”

Lordswood (who beat Chatham Town on penalties) and Crowborough Athletic have already booked their place in the Semi-Finals and Tunbridge Wells and Cray Valley also meet tomorrow night.

Deal Town then host fifteenth-placed Bearsted on Saturday and Hares says he wants to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat at Sevenoaks Town, where goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw scooped the home side’s man-of-the-match-award.

“We will be looking to get back on track after our defeat last Saturday against a very good Sevenoaks side,” added Hares.

“Of course, we were not happy with the result but I thought the result did not reflect our performance.  They were clinical with their finishing and their goalkeeper made some excellent saves.

“Because of the number of our games we have had postponed over the last few weeks, we now have two games a week, which is never easy to the end of the season.

“Our aim is to finish as strongly as we can and to continue to improve.”

Visit Deal Town’s website: www.dealtownfc.co.uk

Whitstable Town  v  Deal Town
Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Quarter-Final
Tuesday 20 February 2018
Kick Off 7:45pm
at The Belmont, Belmont Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1QJ