After a run of three consecutive cup ties Deal Town return to Southern Counties East League action on Tuesday night with a home game against Chatham Town (7.45pm).

And it will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2000-2001 season when both clubs were in the old Kent League. Deal drew 2-2 at the Charles Ground and lost 1-0 away, but the Hoops did win 2-0 at Maidstone Road in a League Cup tie in that same campaign.

The Medway club were relegated from the Isthmian League Division 1 South last season and so far have found life pretty tough going in their new surroundings.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Erith Town left Chatham in 17th place in the table with just one win in seven matches.

The Hoops for their part will be hoping to have a number of players back who were either injured or unavailable for Saturday’s 3-1 Kent Senior Trophy home defeat by Sevenoaks.