Deal Town boss Steve King on 3-1 Isthmian South East weekend win at Hastings United, two-goal Wes Hennessey and loan signing of fellow forward Kai Garrett from Ramsgate

Manager Steve King predicts Deal’s weekend win will look like an even better one in the upcoming weeks.

King’s Hoops earned a 3-1 victory at surprise Isthmian South East strugglers Hastings as two-goal Wes Hennessey added to an early Ashley Miller penalty.

It meant a losing start for new Hastings boss David Altendorff but King expects The U's - among the pre-season promotion favourites - to start climbing up the league before too long.

“A little bit like I said after the Ashford win (a 1-0 triumph earlier this month), it was a really good win - but it will probably look even better in five or six weeks,” said King, whose team have claimed 10 points from their last four fixtures, having beaten Crowborough 5-1 last midweek.

“Hastings were good. They have got some good players.

“I know they’re struggling a bit but they have had a very tough run of fixtures. From what I saw on Saturday, I think they will rise up the table quickly.

“For us - on the back of Tuesday night - to pick up six points after the disappointment of the Margate game (a 2-2 draw), it’s been a good period for us.”

King conceded it was difficult to know what to expect from their hosts after Altendorff only got named as Lee Carey’s successor in the build-up to the encounter.

He said: “It’s a tricky one. We got as much information as we could.

“I know a couple of people who had been there before and we tried to put things together. Ultimately, it was about our performance levels.

“I don’t think we were brilliant but we did score good goals at good times.”

Winger Miller converted an eighth-minute spot-kick in front of an attendance of 739 at the Pilot Field before Hennessey doubled Deal’s lead.

While Hastings got back into it after the break, Hennessey claimed