Deal Town FC

MENS FIRST TEAM

Deal Town played Hythe Town on 02nd November 2024 in the Isthmian League South East Division. Deal Town won three - nil against Hythe in front of a crowd of 605 at the Charles Ground. The Deal goals came from Ife Oni (2) and Archie Hatcher.

The Hoops made it three wins out of three against Hythe so far this season, and they still haven't conceded a goal against them in the process.

But, although Saturday's scoreline was a repeat of the 3-0 victory they had recorded over Hythe in the Kent Senior Cup last month, Steve King's side were made to work harder for this latest success despite the fact they only played against 10 men for two thirds of the game.

That was because, with Deal leading 1-0 through a 17th-minute Ife Oni strike, Hythe suffered a big blow just 10 minutes later when defender Ollie Gray was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on Tom Chapman. Gray is one of Hythe's new signings whose acquisition has led to an upturn in their fortunes, and his early departure seemed to open the door for the Hoops to collect a comfortable three points.

Coach Dean Hill admitted afterwards that it didn't turn out that way:

Before they had the player sent off I thought we did really well and were in control of the game. But sometimes it's not easy when you are playing against 10 men and all the Hythe players gave 110 per cent to keep them in the game in the second half. It was something that we mentioned to the players at half-time, we told them that we wanted to be more of an attacking force in the second half.

Deal had gone in at the break with a 2-0 lead and Oni had scored both of the goals. The first came after good work by Ben Chapman, and then just before the interval brother Tom got in on the act to set up Oni for another precise finish.

Although the half-time scoreline slightly flattered the Hoops it looked like it was now 'game over' but the hard work of the remaining Hythe 10 men ensured that they kept their hopes alive of salvaging something out of the contest until the dying minutes of the game when Archie Hatcher finally wrapped up the three points with his first goal of for the club.

Tom Chapman was again the creator while at the other end goalkeeper Adam Molloy had made a couple of superb saves early in the second half to prevent Hythe from launching a genuine fightback. But Oni had already done enough to earn the MOTM award after taking his personal goal tally against Hythe this season to five and Hill, who is now eagerly looking forward to the Hoops' Kent Senior Cup quarter-final clash against his former club Dover Athletic, feels that Deal are getting used to life in the Isthmian League after winning  promotion from the Southern Counties East League last season. He said:

You always wish that players have less work commitments but overall we are happy with the way things are going. We've got a consistent squad and they all know their rolls and jobs, so whatever 11 we put out they all know the style of football we want them to play.

The Perrys (Ford, Dover) man of the match, as selected by match sponsor Keith Meekins, was Ife Oni.

DEAL: Molloy, Paxman, Foster, Vincent, Green, Murray, B Chapman, Hatcher, T Chapman, Oni, Kennedy. Subs: Penny, Page, A Smith, Hammond, Reeves

Att: 605       

SOURCE: Kevin Redsull
 
 

Deal Town Starting XI: Adam Molloy, Jack Paxman, Alfie Foster, Tom Chapman, Macaulay Murray, Ben Chapman, Alex Green, Ife Oni, Archie Hatcher, Jamie Kennedy, Josh Vincent.

Subs: Jack Penny, Morgan Page, Alex Smith, Zak Hammond, Joe Reeves.

Deal Goals: Ife Oni ('17, '45) Archie Hatcher ('82)

Referee: Rudd

Attendance: 605