Boss Steve King insists Deal aren’t a million miles away from competing with the best in Isthmian South East - despite back-to-back defeats.

The Hoops were beaten 5-0 at play-off occupants Sittingbourne on Saturday after being edged out by another promotion-chasing side, Margate, in last Tuesday’s 1-0 home loss.

Deal failed to convert a second-half penalty against Gate and couldn’t find a way through, despite late pressure.

And while King accepted his team didn’t deserve anything from their trip to Woodstock, as James Tonkin returned in goal, he did feel they were better than the scoreline suggests.

He explained: “I don’t ever want to sound like a deluded manager but I think we have been really unlucky.

“Against Margate, I thought we were outstanding. We played really well and I don’t know how we didn’t get something.

“We conceded just after half-time - then it was all us. We missed a penalty, had one cleared off the line and hit the crossbar and, to be fair to Margate, they said we were very good after the game.

“Sittingbourne’s home form has been outstanding so we changed our shape. We restricted them to eight or nine shots - and still found ourselves 3-0 down.

“A little bit like against Beckenham, we fell apart once the game had gone.

“We were 3-0 down and they scored on 88 and 93 minutes, and it looks like we were absolutely smashed. We weren’t.

“Don’t get me wrong, we didn’t create loads but we certainly didn’t deserve to lose by five.

"Although we lost by five on Saturday, I didn’t feel like we were miles off it. But we’ve just got to take our medicine.”

Forward Hatcher became the latest player to fail to convert a spot-kick for the Hoops, albeit there was some controversy around Margate goalkeeper Tom Wray’s save, with the youngster seemingly off his line.

“Over the last year, I think we have had eight different penalty-takers,” said King.

“I’m at my wit’s end a little bit with it! We have got some really good players and we have got some really confident, technical players but, to be fair, their keeper has made a good save from Archie’s one.

“It probably didn’t help the keeper was two yards off his line, although very few officials are brave enough to do something.”

There was no blame attached to Hatcher, with the 19-year-old taking on the responsibility, despite only having signed for Deal last month.

King revealed: “As soon as he came in, Archie said he was keen to get on set-pieces where he was able to.

“He’s technically very good and he scored a lot in youth-team football.

"Macca Murray wasn’t on the pitch at the time on Tuesday - he had missed against Littlehampton, anyway - so I felt a bit sorry for Archie.”

Deal, who have already twice played leaders Beckenham, as well as Margate, will host Littlehampton in the league this Saturday.

“Our first points target is to get to 40 points,” said King.

“I’d expect that keeps you up. If we can get to 40 points, we’ll aim for 50 points and, if we get to 50 points, we’ll see if we can get to 60 points.

"We probably know you’ll need mid-70s to get into the play-offs, so we’d need to go on some run to do that.

“I get ridiculed for it - but I really don’t look at the league table. There’s so many variables to it.

“Some sides are up there but have had some favourable fixtures and some sides, like Ashford, are struggling a bit. But they have had some tough games and you’d expect them to start climbing the table.

“It’s only when you get to the last five or so games of the season that I look at the table.

“Until then, the table is such a variable.”

Deal, who had young defender Zak Hammond sent-off in the second half, lost 2-0 at Isthmian Premier Hastings in the Velocity Cup on Tuesday.