Young Deal forward Wes Hennessey is capable of scoring between 20 and 25 goals in a season at Isthmian South East level, according to manager Steve King.

Hennessey has just three goals this term after netting off the substitutes’ bench in the Hoops’ last two matches.

He earned their equaliser in a weekend comeback 2-2 draw at Hythe after his clinching injury-time goal in their 2-0 home win against basement boys Steyning Town Community last midweek.

“I actually thought about starting him on Saturday,” said King.

“I always have found Wes to be a very streaky player and, once he gets a goal, he can get on a run.

“By his own admission, he has had a bit of a frustrating season. But he’s still young and I’ve got an awful lot of faith in him.

"I can see him getting 20 or 25 goals at this level.

“His work has hampered him this season, that’s not helped, but I’m hoping he can now finish the season strongly."

Deal had lost six of their last seven fixtures before they picked up much-needed points against Hythe and Steyning.

They did it the hard way at Reachfields, though. They trailed 2-0 within 25 minutes, with 17-goal top scorer Tom Chapman starting their comeback, before Hennessey netted.

King reflected: “I was pleased with the performance, a little bit disappointed with the result but, in any game you go 2-0 down in, you’re pleased with a point.

“We felt we did enough to win it, but it’s been a satisfactory week.”

The Hoops made a slow start at Hythe as they struggled to compete physically against their hosts.

King said: “It was just set-pieces. We were very un-Deal-like in our side.

“We only had one player, Alfie Foster, that was over six foot. Hythe are a big side and everyone knows about Lex Allan.

“One of them came from a massive long throw that caught us off-guard.

“Harry Heath, who played against us with Lancing, they didn’t use it, but it turns out he has a mammoth throw! Then, Lex Allan scored from a corner.

“But I felt sorry for the players because we just weren’t very big.”

Those results have sent King’s side back into the top-half of the table in 10th but it’s a points target, rather than a final league position, which their boss is focusing on.

He said: “We will finish where we deserve to finish over 42 games. I always believe that happens.

“We’re probably more looking at a points total rather than a position, where it’s so tight. If we achieve that, I’ll be happy if we come eighth or 15th.

“It’s been a successful season for us. In my nine or 10 seasons at the football club, they’ve all finished in a ‘green tick’.

"That even goes back to just trying to finish in the top-half of Southern Counties East League.

“This year, we just wanted to stay up. It was as simple as that.

"Phoenix Sports only just stayed up last year and, obviously, they’re battling again this year. We’re really proud of what we have done. We have scored goals - but conceded too many.

“It’s not a season that will finish in silverware but, at Step 4, every game is like an FA Vase quarter-final. Every Step 4 game is difficult, even when you play teams near the bottom.

“When we won in the Vase last-16, that was one of the club’s biggest achievements. Some have maybe downplayed that challenge this season.

“To have won 14 league games, I’m really proud of the lads.”

The Hoops welcome Danny Kedwell’s AFC Croydon Athletic team to the Charles Sports Ground on Saturday, their weekend visitors on the hunt for a new keeper after No.1 Amadou Tangara was sent off during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Herne Bay.

Chapman bagged a quickfire late double when the Hoops won at Croydon in December.

“We won 2-1 up there in a very even game,” King recalled.

“They have invested heavily in their squad and they have got some good players.

“They have got a new manager and we know how Danny likes to play so it’ll be a tough test.

“But our home record, other than against the top sides - although we also blemished it a bit against Erith - has been good. We’re at 44 points so two more wins will take us to 50 points.

“Their keeper got sent off at the weekend but, with Danny’s contacts, I’m sure their new keeper will be good.

“If we can go three unbeaten, that’s a good run at this stage of the season. We had Zak Hammond, aged 18, at centre-half on Saturday, and Morgan Page came on.

“We’re giving some of the young lads opportunities at this stage of the season and they’re certainly not letting us down.”