HOOPS V TUNBRIDGE WELLS PREVIEW

The Hoops will be hunting for their fourth successive home win when they take on Tunbridge Wells on Saturday (3pm).
And Derek Hares’ team know that victory will lift them above a Wells side who have lost their way a little in recent weeks after starting the season in storming fashion. Wells were top of the table in early September but have now slipped down to eighth, with Hares saying: “It looked like they were possibly going to challenge for the title after the first few weeks but their results have dropped off a bit.”
Hares, however, will also be fully aware that Wells defeated second-placed Chatham Town 2-0 in their most recent fixture a fortnight ago, which suggests they might be rediscovering some of their early-season form, and manager Richard Styles has increased his options this week by signing midfielder Clark Woodcock from Canterbury City.
The Wells squad will also include winger Euan Sahadow, who made 19 appearances for Deal in the 2017-18 season and has already scored seven times in the current campaign.
Wells won the corresponding fixture 3-1 last season, when Alfie Foster scored the Deal goal, and Foster’s two goals last Saturday helped the Hoops to their 4-1 success over K Sports, which kept their good form at the Charles Ground going.
Deal have lost only once in eight home games this season, and Hares added: “We just seem to play well at home and long may it continue. I don’t think teams enjoy coming to play us because they know they are going to get a tough game, and if we play as well as we have done in our last two home matches we’ve got every chance on Saturday.”
Selection-wise, Hares is still without Sam Wilson because of a knee injury while Lee Scott (ankle) and Kane Smith (hamstring) are both doubtful.