Derek Hares wants Deal to take advantage of a run of matches in front of their own fans.

The Hoops are scheduled to play their next three games at home, although they are well behind most in their Southern Counties East Premier Division calendar and need to rearrange a fair few fixtures.

Deal, who had been due to visit Holmesdale last weekend before the match was postponed, host Bearsted this Saturday.

They then face fellow high-fliers Glebe in their Kent Senior Trophy quarter-final at the Charles Sports Ground on January 22 and are back in league action against Canterbury City three days later in a re-arranged encounter.

“Obviously we have got to try and take advantage of that,” said manager Hares, whose side remain in fifth.

“We have been playing well and we just need to keep it going. Every game is a big game now, really.

"We are just looking forward to getting a run of games going.”

Attendances have been good during the campaign so far.

Hares added: “Our support has been fantastic this season - and not just at home. At K Sports (on January 3 when Deal won 4-0), we had really good support.

“We must be averaging around 250 at home. For some, we have had 300 or more.

"The players appreciate that support and it really does make a difference.”

Bearsted sit in 10th, 11 points adrift of the Hoops, having played three league matches more. They were beaten 3-0 at Sheppey last weekend.

But Hares warned: “They are always a decent side. It’s never an easy run-out against them.

“I think we drew 2-2 when we played away at their place earlier in the season in October and scored a late equaliser.”