The Hoops take on a Croydon side at the Charles Ground on Saturday (3pm) who have the second best away record in the league so far this season.
The Trams have picked up 15 points from their seven away league matches, a record bettered only by table-toppers Crowborough Athletic, and is the main reason why they are currently lying in third position just two points behind the Crows.
But Deal can draw encouragement from the fact they defeated Croydon three times last season, twice in the league and also in a Kent Senior Trophy 2nd round tie in south London after a penalty shootout.
Croydon had more luck in another shootout in midweek, beating Molesey in the Surrey Senior Cup 11-10 on penalties, which helped to make up for the poor performance in last Saturday’s surprise 4-1 home defeat by Corinthian.
The Hoops were also successful in midweek, winning 2-1 at bottom-of-the-table Hollands & Blair, and Derek Hares’ side know that another three points on Saturday could lift them back into the top half of the table.
