Deal are closing in on a fourth-placed finish and boss Derek Hares admits his side have been desperate not to let that slip in the latter stages of the season.

The Hoops beat 10-man Lordswood 3-0 on Saturday as they responded after their heavy defeat at Sheppey in their previous outing.

They are seven points ahead of fifth-placed Kennington and eight clear of Erith & Belvedere, in sixth, who are the only two teams who can mathematically catch them in the Southern Counties East Premier Division with three matches to go this season.

Its means one more win would secure a top-four finish ahead of their Easter weekend double header.

Hares, whose team progressed into the latter stages of the Challenge Cup and Kent Senior Trophy but failed to make either final, said: “We didn’t want to lose that (their place in the top four).

“If we can finish fourth, especially with the amount of points that we have got, then it’s been a good season for the lads.

“Hopefully we can build on that next year.”

Deal were already 2-0 in front against second-bottom Lordswood when the visitors had Chris Mirrlees sent off for a challenge on Ben Chapman.

Hares reflected: “Obviously, we knew what Lordswood were going to be like. They have not had the best of seasons but they are still in with a chance of staying up.

“But to be fair, it was quite a comfortable win in the end - no disrespect to them. They had one effort that hit the bar first half but, other than that, they didn’t cause us too many problems.

“It was a good all-round performance and a good response to the Sheppey game.”

Wideman Troy Howard netted twice for the Hoops, adding to Jack Paxman’s first-half effort. The brace took Howard’s goal tally for the campaign into double figures.

On Howard’s performance, Hares said: “He did well, particularly in the second half. He scored two decent goals and caused them problems.

“We were not spectacular but definitely deserved to win the game.

“It was an important three points for us and it takes us onto 70 points.

“The players have kept going, you get the best out of them pretty much every week. The last couple of months have not been easy, with all the games and all the travelling.

“But after another couple of games, they can have a few weeks off.”

Deal host Punjab this Saturday before they visit second-placed Chatham on Easter Monday after they claimed their first clean sheet in almost a month.

Hares stated: “It was pleasing to get that. What we have done well, for most of this season is, if we have had a knock-back, the lads have responded - and they did that again on Saturday.

“We have Punjab next. They have had some good results so that won’t be easy.

“It’s a busy weekend for us and a big weekend for us - with the Chatham game as well.

“We just have to keep going until the end of the season now.”