Charlie Dickens led the way with two late goals as Deal ended their three-month wait for a home league win in emphatic fashion on Saturday.
But, as in the Hoops’ previous home game against Lordswood, the match was tarnished by the showing of four red cards, three of which followed a mass flare-up five minutes from time.
When referee Ollie Butcher finally managed to restore order he issued red cards to Deal defender Grant Bagley and to Wells’ duo Tom Bryant and Chris Seenan, with the latter having raced back onto the pitch to join in the fracas after having been substituted 12 minutes earlier.
With Wells’ Lee Radford earlier dismissed for two yellow cards it meant the visitors were reduced to nine men for the last few minutes and Deal, leading 2-1 when the flare-up started, capitalised with two injury-time strikes from Dickens. First he thumped home a header from a Rene Rivera corner and then finished off a pull-back from Connor Coyne to round off his fine performance as a stand-in central midfielder.
Manager Derek Hares said afterwards: “We’ve been badly hit by injuries and suspensions and had several players missing today, so to win 4-1 was a great effort by the lads.
“Obviously Tunbridge Wells being reduced to nine men helped us out but to be honest I think we were the better team anyway, and all the time you’ve got the sort of desire and commitment that we showed again today then you’ve got a chance.”
The key to Deal’s victory was their performance in the opening 45 minutes when, despite playing into the fierce wind whipping across the Charles Ground, they defended stubbornly before snatching the lead seven minutes before the break. Coyne was again the provider, slipping a pass into space for Joe Anderson, making his first appearance for several weeks, to fire low into the far corner.
After their limp first-half showing Wells posed more of an attacking threat in the second period and within two minutes of the restart Joe Nwoko had put them back on level terms.
New Hoops keeper Henry Newcombe, on loan from Gillingham, then denied Nwoko a second goal just after the hour mark but it was Deal who remained the more likely to score again and, with 10 minutes left, Coyne gained due reward for his excellent afternoon’s work by chipping home a 20-yard free kick via the underside of the bar.
Minutes later the “pub brawl” broke out to cast a shadow over the afternoon’s entertainment but Hares was understandably pleased with the final result, adding: “That’s seven points now from our last three matches and, if we could win our next two home games, we would probably go into the new year not far off halfway in the table.”
Deal Town: Newcombe, Hark, Hill, Scott, Bagley, Bigginton, Dickens, Anderson (A Coyne 80mins), Rivera, Holmes (Ashman 55mins), C Coyne.
Tunbridge Wells: Lawrence, Tarbie, Barton, Ikpeme (Mackelden 23mins), Cooke, Bryant, Parsons, Fuller, Nwoko, Seenan (McLeod 72mins), Radford.
3 Responses
Well,you certainly get your moneys worth,when you go and watch a Deal game! 🙂
A 4-1 win,sendings off,bookings and a mass brawl to boot. And all this in the season of goodwill and cheer! Considering the likes of Tanner,Miller,Walsh,Waymark et al were missing(with 2 of the ressies stepping up to the plate),this was a well fought(in many ways!) and much needed win. Lets see another one next week against E&B.
Lastly,are the club running a “Spot the Deliberate Mistake” competition? After the last home game(where Lordswood were Lordsworth),I spotted that a) Ryan Philpott still appears in the line up b) Its TUNBRIDGE Wells,not Tonbridge and c) Player Profile DEAN HILL,with Lee Scott the obvious candidate!
If so,I claim my prize right now! 😉
great result in the end.defended better and nice to see a bit of killer instinct at the end.well done lads.
I can’t believe what I’ve been missing.
I have said it before though Deal never give in and know
exactly how to do it the hard way.
All that play give more than their best.
The attitude and desire is what I love about the club.
I will be going hopefully on Saturday and can’t wait.
Hopefully Derek and the coaches can get a squad together the work they do needs to be applauded.
Deal will pull through coz they always do because that ks the Deal way.
Come on you Deal.!!!!!