Deal Town manager Steve King not getting carried away despite seven wins from seven in Hoops pre-season campaign

Boss Steve King won’t get carried away at Deal Town - despite a near-perfect pre-season.

The Hoops have won the first seven of their warm-up fixtures as they prepare for life in Isthmian South East.

Deal were 3-1 victors at last term’s Southern Counties East Premier Division play-off finalists Corinthian at the weekend as Wes Hennessey, Josh Vincent and Morgan Page found the target.

King, whose team beat a young Gillingham XI 4-1 thanks to goals from Ben Chapman, Ashley Miller, Kayden Jefferys and Alex Smith last midweek, said: “Pre-season is pre-season, isn’t it?

“You cannot read too much into it. But I would prefer to win seven out of seven than to lose six games out of seven.

“We know Corinthian will be in and around it in their league. It was quite nice to get three goals on Saturday.

“Apart from a young Gillingham side, we have played lower-league opposition so far. We have kept the momentum going from last season.

“But it’s only pre-season - I’m experienced enough and have been around long enough to know that you get zero points in pre-season - but I’m pleased with how it has gone.”

Deal are scheduled to end their pre-season campaign at home to Southern Counties East Division 1 Faversham Strike Force on Saturday. First-half goals from Macaulay Murray and Jamie Kennedy saw the Hoops saw to a 2-1 victory at ambitious Isthmian Premier team Folkestone on Tuesday.

King, speaking on Monday, said: "We have the Folkestone game.

“We know that will be very difficult. I will be very surprised if they’re not in the play-offs in the Isthmian Premier Division.

“We then have got Faversham Strike Force at the weekend to just get minutes into other boys. We have tried to build it up a little bit.

“But we have got eight pre-season