Deal Town FC

MENS FIRST TEAM

Deal Town played Herne Bay on 21st April 2025 in the Isthmian League South East Division. Deal Town won three - nil against Herne-Bay in front of a crowd of 729 at Herne-Bay. The Deal goals came from Wes Hennessey, Tom Chapman and Archie Hatcher.

After the hard earned 3 points against East Grinstead, a trip to Herne Bay beckoned and with injuries to Ife Oni and Jack Penny, it was Wes Hennessey and Alfie Foster who came back into the starting XI; Joe Reeves and Kayden Jeffreys on the bench.

From the outset DTFC looked to impose themselves on HBFC, who were safe for another season despite their lowly League position. With Wes up front he was looking to take advantage of the more experienced HBFC defenders by going directly at them in an effort to create chances. Together with TC, their pace was troubling a rather static back line of the home team. Both players directness was rewarded in the 19th minute when Hammond's cross to TC, saw his ball fired the 6-yard box, which inadvertently found Wes for the opener.

An injury to Ash Miller in the 25th minute saw him treated;  with no improvement he was replaced by Archie Hatcher in the 31st minute.

The push for the second continued and with 38 minutes on the clock a ball into Wes saw him dance around a HBFC defender, pass to Archie whose shot was parried by the home keeper, only for TC to snaffle the rebound and hit the back of the net for a deserved second.

With the lead secure and DTFC winning nearly everything they were contesting and when HBFC did get forward all was being mopped up by JV and Molloy.

HT: Herne Bay 0-2 Deal Town

With HBFC ringing the changes at half time, DTFC started where they left off; TC looking to take advantage on the flanks and find the feet or head of a fellow attacker to put the game to bed.

To their credit HBFC didn’t lie down and though they seemed to liven up again their efforts were being thwarted by the solid JV, who was winning everything in the air.

The hard-working Hennessey made way for Kayden Jeffreys in 59 minutes. The fixture was in a period of kick and rush with no definitive chances falling to either front line and a bit of needle was creeping in as both sets of players were becoming frustrated with a dull passage of play. With the match drawing into the last 10 mins, DTFC made changes with Kane Smith, Joe Reeves and Owen Wilkinson replacing Macca, TC and Morgan in an effort to bring a spark to proceedings.

With 4 added minutes having been shown, a wild challenge by an HBFC player resulted in his caution and an FK for DTFC some 20 yds out of the left edge of the box.  Cue Archie Hatcher who stepped up to despatch it past the home keeper for a third, the match was over with a comprehensive win for DTFC. 

FT: Herne Bay 0–3 Deal Town

Deal Town Starting XI: Adam Molloy, Zak Hammond, Alfie Foster, Morgan Page, Tom Chapman, Macaulay Murray, Wes Hennessey, Ben Chapman, Jack Paxman, Ashley Miller, Josh Vincent.

Subs: Joe Reeves, Kane Smith, Kayden Jefferys, Archie Hatcher, Owen Wilkinson.

Deal Goals: Wes Hennessey ('19) Tom Chapman ('38) Archie Hatcher ('90)

Referee: Cutler

Attendance: 729