Fit-again Deal Town forward Rory Smith scores winning goal off substitutes’ bench in 2-1 Isthmian South East home win against basement boys Phoenix Sports

Rory Smith returned with a bang to help Deal record a much-needed league win on Saturday.

Forward Smith bagged the winning goal in the second half of the Hoops’ 2-1 Isthmian South East home victory against basement boys Phoenix Sports, who had two men sent off.

Smith, who hasn’t played first-team football since mid-October, had been due to play for the under-23s to build-up his fitness - only for that fixture to be postponed.

Nevertheless, Deal manager Steve King named him on the substitutes’ bench against Phoenix, bringing him on midway through the first half for the injured Jamie Kennedy, and Smith vindicated his decision.

Deal’s win came after a run of five defeats in six league matches.

“It was a bit of a strange one,” revealed King, who also hopes to have striker Aaron Millbank back soon.

“He didn’t end up playing for the under-23s last Thursday because that game got postponed because of the weather.

“When Jamie Kennedy went down after about 20 minutes on Saturday, I just turned around and looked at him. The plan wasn’t for him to play 60 or 70 minutes.

“But he took his goal - a real poacher’s goal - well and got through it okay.

“Credit to the physio [Tony Henderson] and everyone else that has got him back playing for us.”

Smith struck after top scorer Tom Chapman - his cousin - had got the home side level at the Charles Sports Ground. Phoenix had broken the deadlock in the 40th minute.

King added: “The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game.

“I thought we were very dominant and played very well against a side that I don’t think will end up finishing where they are now. Since Darren Anslow has gone in, they have improved markedly.

“They gave Ramsgate and Margate good games recently.

“We conceded an unfortunate goal