Kentish Football 
A top-six finish is still within reach, says Deal Town boss Derek Hares
Sunday 02nd January 2011
DEAL TOWN boss Derek Hares says tomorrow’s game at Norton Sports will kick-start his side’s frustrating season, writes Stephen McCartney.
Deal sit in eighth place in the Kent League table, with a record of five wins and a draw from 12 league games but their trip to Norton Sports will be their first game for a number of weeks.
“We started very well but had a very disappointing November really,” admitted Hares.
“We had some poor performances and some poor results to be honest and since then we’ve only played one game in six weeks and that was where I played a full first team against Folkestone reserves, which we won 5-0.
“We just want to get back to playing, as training and games have been affected due to the bad weather and when we start again tomorrow it will be like starting a new season.”
The Deal boss knows what he is expecting against Ben Taylor’s side.
“It will be a very difficult game against a very physical side,” he added. “It’s going to be a battle against them.”
Danny Smith and Grant Bagley are both suspended and striker Mo Takaloo begins a seven-day holiday tomorrow.
“I’m afraid at this level there’s not a lot you can do about it,” said Hares. “He’s away for a week, he goes tomorrow so he missed Norton and the Herne Bay game on Saturday.”
Hares added: “Two very difficult games but as this league has already shown, I think most teams can beat each other. It’s getting it right on the day. Our problems have been defending as a team. I think at times the back four plays pretty well, but we don’t defend as a team and we get punished for it at times.”
Reflecting on the year 2010, Hares said: “This year has been a transitional period really for the club off the pitch with many problems last year, which have been put behind us now and we’re trying to just stabilise the club.
“I said at the start of the season if we can finish in the top six that will be a good year and I still don’t think that’s out of reach.
“We’ve made it difficult with our performances in November, but we showed prior to that we can be a match to anybody. We went down to Hythe and won and we won at Greenwich but we go and lost some silly games. We’ve just got to be more consistent. If we find that consistency, we’ve got some good players at the club, who can do really well.
“We’re just looking forward to getting back to playing. What we’re trying to do is really rediscover the form we started the season with.
“We’re on a disappointing run but I still feel we’ve got enough good players at the club to have a fairly good season.”
Hares revealed that full-back Simon Moore has put pen to paper for his home-town club.
He said: “He’s been a regular at Herne Bay for the last three years and he won their player of the year last year. He’s a Deal lad so hopefully he will strengthen our squad.”
Visit Deal Town’s website: www.dealtownfc.co.uk
Norton Sports v Deal Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Bank Holiday Monday 3rd January 2011
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Woodstock Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd