League matters are back at the top of Deal’s agenda after eventful cup exploits.

The Southern Counties East Premier Division outfit visited Corsham for an FA Vase tie last weekend - at the third time of asking - as they suffered a 1-0 defeat.

Deal manager Steve King felt sorry for his troops and thought they had performed well enough to get a result.

Now, though, their attention quickly turns back to league action.

They are away to struggling Canterbury City tonight, travel to fifth-placed Stansfeld this Saturday and welcome K Sports to the Charles Sports Ground on Tuesday.

“We have got 19 league games to play in three months,” said King, whose side also have reached the Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Final.

“We will crack on.

“The great thing about football is there’s always a game coming. We will try and get on a run in the league, and see where that takes us.

“We have the Semi-Final to look forward to as well.”

Deal have been drawn at home to league rivals Erith Town, also knocked out of the FA Vase last Saturday, with that last-four tie due to be played on Saturday, February 11.

Canterbury may be bottom of the table, but the Hoops won’t underestimate Danny Lawrence’s men.

King, who saw several players pick up knocks at Corsham, said: “We know Canterbury well and we know DL well. That’s going to be really tough.

“We don’t look at the table.”

Indeed, City are a different proposition under recently-appointed Lawrence, who was given the job for a second time over the festive period.

“DL has got some good players there,” King continued. “They will play with a lot of passion and fight.

“It was another long journey on Saturday - the last three weeks we’ve done that now!

"It’s not going to be easy but we’re looking forward to it.”

After two wasted trips to Corsham, Deal finally got to play their Wiltshire hosts in their Fourth-Round tie - but King felt things went against them.

Two players were signed by Corsham from National League South clubs in the build-up to the game while key decisions went the home side’s way on the field as well.

“First of all, I was really pleased with our performance,” King reflected.

“I thought we were outstanding.

“I thought we were the better side throughout the game. Not much went our way and I felt sorry for the boys.

“Had we replayed the game this week, I would fancy us to win it.

"But we gave a sloppy goal away and that gave them something to defend and we couldn’t find a goal in the second half.”

That Vase tie came after last Tuesday’s 5-1 Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-Final win over Division 1 second-placed outfit Snodland.

King said: “We were outstanding. To be fair, the two performances on Tuesday and Saturday, I’ve been delighted with them both.

“Against Snodland, we were excellent. It was a tight first 10 minutes but, once we handled that, we took control of the game.

“Getting through to the Semi-Final is a really big thing.

“If it had been the other way around, I would be happier.

"But you always have the last game on your mind.”

Deal’s strikes came courtesy of two-goal Tom Chapman, Riley Alford, Aaron Millbank and Dover loanee defender Alex Green.

“I sound like a broken record when I say it but we want to score from as many avenues as possible,” King added.

The Hoops are in talks to try to extend the loan deals with both Margate - who this week permanently appointed Reece Prestedge as their new manager - and Dover for winger Troy Howard and Green.