Manager Steve King has praised Deal’s longer-serving players for their continued development.
Now in their second Isthmian South East season, the Hoops sit mid-table in 11th, having achieved a seventh-placed finish last term.
Midfielder Jack Palmby and striker Mefose Esumobi had been signed this summer in an attempt to strengthen Deal’s squad. But both have now moved on.
They do so in search of more regular first-team football than they were likely to find at the Charles Sports Ground - and that’s largely due to how well those already at the club are adapting to higher-division football.
King said: “It’s credit to the players we had at Step 5.
“Both Jack and Mef are good players but, with the players we have got, they have really kicked on. I’m really proud of what they’re doing.
“The forward players, people like Ashley Miller and Rory Smith, they’re probably playing as well as they have done in their careers.
"They’re certainly playing as well as they have done in the last five or six years. Ben Chapman has really acclimatised himself to this level, Jack Paxman has been outstanding, and Macca Murray has kicked on.
“They’re making it hard to improve the squad. We still want to, of course, but they’re setting a high level.
“It’s not easy for us to strengthen because of how well those players have done.”
Esumobi, formerly of Corinthian, made 11 appearances and netted in the 2-1 triumph at Herne Bay in August while ex-Bearsted player Palmby played 15 times, making six starts.
“They want to play regular first-team football,” said King. “With the way we’re going and the review we have done recently, we didn’t see that happening.
“I like to be honest with players. We have got a very specific way of doing things at Deal and,
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