Deal Town boss Steve King on winger Ashley Miller’s form, returning to Isthmian South East action and a 2-0 home win over Sevenoaks Town

Winger Ashley Miller is playing as well now as he has done for a long time, Deal manager Steve King believes.

Miller scored a first-half penalty in the Hoops’ 2-0 Isthmian South East weekend win against Sevenoaks after last Tuesday’s double in a 3-2 Velocity Cup defeat at Erith Town.

Miller, now 31, was scoring goals for Gillingham as a teenager so there’s no doubting his ability.

But King is hopeful he can now add greater consistency into his game.

“I’ve known Ash for a long time, probably since he was 10, and our aim with him - and with the experience he has got now - is for him not to be streaky and for him to be consistent,” said King, whose team will host Eastbourne tonight.

“I know he’s working really hard on that. I think he’s probably playing as well now as he has been for a long time. He was excellent at Erith in midweek.

“I thought he was very good on Saturday and probably should have had another goal, and was a bit frustrated with one he missed.

“He was good at Chatham. Sometimes, people forget how good he is.

“If he can get his consistency levels up, I know that’s his aim, I think he’s going to be a really key player.

“It’s nice for him, like with Tom Chapman, with Wes Hennessey and with Rory Smith, there’s not pressure on one man.

“It’s not about him scoring every week. It’s just about that level of performance.

“What you find with Ash is, when his level of performance is consistently high, the goals will naturally come.”

Deal’s game against Sevenoaks was only a third in the league since August 25 after their best FA Cup run in the 21st century, which saw them reach the third qualifying round.

King said: “It sounds a little bit stupid but it almost felt like the start of the season.

“We could say to the