Deal Town will play Chatham Town in the FA Cup after last weekend’s win over Egham Town – Hoops with a chance to avenge midweek league defeat at Ashford United as same opponents return for FA Trophy clash

Deal Town have a chance to make history in the FA Cup after another win in the competition last weekend - but big challenges await elsewhere first.

The Hoops have never been past the third qualifying round in the FA Cup before but last weekend’s 2-1 win over Egham Town took them to that stage for the first time since 1997. They’ll head to Chatham Town in the next round.

Manager Steve King didn’t have much time to take it all in as his men were back in action on Tuesday night with a 2-1 Isthmian South East loss at Ashford United. The two sides meet again in the FA Trophy second qualifying round this Saturday at the Charles Ground.

A midweek league game at Hassocks next Tuesday then comes before they get a chance to lock horns with higher-league Chats on September 27.

It’s exhausting work for the Deal boss - who has a day job, too, - but he’s not complaining.

He said: “It makes me laugh when top-level managers whinge about fixture congestion.

“They play a lot of games but don’t have to worry about getting people out of work at 3pm to make it to Hassocks!

“You normally have fixture congestion because you’re winning games and being successful, so it’s nothing I will ever complain about.

“It does bring its challenges, and luckily I have done this for a long time. It doesn’t get any easier, but you do draw on your past experiences to try and make the right call when it comes to rotating your squad and looking after your players.

“There probably isn’t one game that is more important than any other at the moment.

“The league games are really important, and two away midweek games are tough. The FA Trophy gives you the possible financial rewards and we’re at home on Saturday, and then obviously the third qualifying round of the FA