The pressure is growing on Deal Town manager Derek Hares to stop his side’s dismal run of form.

Last Saturday’s 6-4 defeat at Sporting Bengal left Deal third from bottom of the Kent League table with just nine points from nine league games and
with only one win in their last 11 matches.

Deal led 3-1 and 4-3 at Bengal, only to concede three goals in the last seven minutes to a Sporting side who have now risen to the dizzy heights of seventh place.

A dejected Hares said afterwards: "It was the same old story. We looked great going forward but we just can’t defend at the moment. But you have also got to say that Sporting are a vastly-improved team this season."

That fact, however, is likely to cut much ice with Deal’s supporters who have become accustomed to their side beating the Bengalis on a regular basis since they joined the league six years ago.

Now Hares must lift his players for Saturday’s home game with Norton Sports and he will take encouragement from the fact that Deal’s home form is more than respectable with four wins and four draws in eight matches in league and cup.

Centre-half Jake Eastwood, who missed the Sporting game because of a knee injury, should be fit to face a Norton side who went out of the Premier Division Cup to Sevenoaks on penalties last Saturday.

But Mike Cassar (calf) is doubtful while fellow full-back Gary Beeden is away on holiday this weekend.