The Hoops have a quick chance to gain revenge for Tuesday’s semi-final penalty shootout defeat by Cray Valley PM when the two sides meet again in a league game at the Charles Ground on Saturday.
And Deal will also be keen to finally turn the tables on a Cray team to whom they have already lost three times this campaign. In addition to Tuesday’s Kent Senior Trophy exit the Hoops also went down to the Millers, again in a penalty shootout, in a League Challenge Cup tie in October as well as being beaten 5-1 at the Badgers Sports Ground on the opening weekend of the league season.
But Hoops’ manager Derek Hares believes his side’s strong recent performances, including three wins in a row before the cup defeat, offer plenty of encouragement ahead of the Cray re-match. He said: “We have played Sevenoaks and Cray in the Trophy, two teams in the top five of the league, and been excellent in both games and that bodes well for the future.”
And “Del’s” squad will be boosted this weekend by the return of Joe Anderson, Liam Hark and Dan Adams, all of whom were unavailable on Tuesday night but winger Harry Alexander, whose pace caused Cray plenty of problems, is doubtful with a hamstring injury.
