Boss Steve King has praised Deal’s loyal fans who watched them book their FA Vase Quarter-Final spot.

Leading 2-0 after 21 minutes, King’s Southern Counties East Premier Division title-chasing team were pegged back in the second half of their huge rearranged last-16 match at Bridgwater United last weekend while midfielder Macauley Murray was sent off.

But goalkeeper James Tonkin then shone, as the Hoops won 6-5 on spot-kicks after the 450-mile round trip.

“The support was outstanding,” said King. “We probably had 150 there. We might have had even more the week before.

“Their support was brilliant. We needed it, especially when you have 10 men and you're under the cosh, defending the slope and defending against the wind.

“The boys didn’t want to let them down and really dug in. It was great to be able to celebrate with them.

“We’re going to need that support.”

Deal goalkeeper and manager make team-of-the-week

It’s the furthest Deal, 2000 winners, have progressed in the FA Vase since, with a Wembley Final not far away. They will now visit United Counties League Premier Division North high-fliers Lincoln United next month.

King said: “It’s another sign of our progression.

“We have got to the last-32 and the last-16 in the last couple of years and then came unstuck, being beaten by an extra bit of quality at that stage.

“We knew Bridgwater’s quality - having beaten Farnham and what they had done to go to that stage - so to go past that hurdle, that gives us real belief.

“Every round you get closer, that level of belief just goes up a little bit more.”

Tonkin returned between the sticks with Henry Newcombe out injured for the season and Adam Molloy cup-tied. While he made a mistake in normal time, Tonkin made up for it in the shoot-out.

King noted: “He’s just the man you need in that situation.

“I had a good feeling when it went to penalties with Tonks in goal. Sometimes, those headlines are written, aren’t they?

“He did well. He made a mistake for the first goal but was outstanding after that when we went down to 10 men, making a couple of good saves in normal time.

“Then, he made a couple of good penalty saves and stuck his own one away.”

Winger Tom Chapman emphatically hammered in from distance to put the visitors ahead inside two minutes before a fortunate set of circumstances saw Rory Smith convert a Chapman cross - despite the forward having been due to come off with a knock.

“Tactical genius, me!” joked King, who introduced left-back Jack Penny in Smith’s place.

“He felt his hamstring just tighten up. With the run of fixtures that we have got, we cannot be taking any risks. We were looking to bring him off.

“But Kieron (Hollier, club coach) said to just give him another minute or two. The ball then didn’t go out of play and he managed to get on the end of a Tom Chapman cross and put us 2-0 up.

“We subbed him during the celebrations.”

Things appeared to be going against Deal around the hour mark, though, with Murray dismissed for a second bookable offence, shortly after the home side had pulled one back.

King recalled: “We made a mistake for the goal and the geezer (Ben Griffith) has dropped it in from 35 or 40 yards.

“Then, two minutes later, Macca gets sent off. He slipped, so he was unlucky.

“You just get the feeling ‘Maybe it’s not going to be our day.’ Certainly when the equaliser goes in, you think ‘This is going to be a real tough shift now’ - but I knew the boys wouldn’t give up.

“We actually created some good chances at 2-2. We know our fitness levels are outstanding, so we weren’t going to get outrun fitness-wise. I was delighted we dug in to go to penalties.

“But even on penalties, you miss your first one, they score their first four, and you look dead and buried. But we came back from that, as well.

“It shows great character.”

The Hoops’ Vase victory came after they had won 4-0 at home to Hollands & Blair in the league last Tuesday.

Murray - with a penalty - Ben Chapman, Ashley Miller and substitute Ife Oni netted - only for Oni to be sent off shortly after he had scored.

Yet another huge week lies ahead for King’s team who, having been due to host Erith Town in the first leg of their Challenge Cup Semi-Final tonight, welcome Punjab United to the Charles Sports Ground this Saturday.

They will visit Erith Town for the second leg on Tuesday.

Speaking on Monday ahead of their hectic schedule, King admitted: “I really don’t know what I think about the League Cup games!

“We want to try and win them. We will pick sides to go and win them - but Saturday really is our focus.

“We have got three league games before we go again in the Vase. Punjab at home, VCD away and Kennington away, they’re all tough games.

“But if we can put another seven or nine points on the board, it’s going to put us in a really strong position.”

King also needs little reminding of the threat Punjab United can pose after they hammered them 6-0 in last April’s Kent Senior Trophy Final.

He said: “You have only got to say the word ‘Punjab’ to me - and I still have nightmares!

“They’re certainly a football club we would never take lightly. We know how dangerous they can be.

“They’re still in the hunt for the play-offs and have got some very good players.”

Murray will be banned for the Punjab United game while winger Miller is cup-tied for both clashes against Erith Town.