Deal Town ended their run of four straight defeats at the hands of Hollands & Blair with this victory at Gillingham on Wednesday night which was more comfortable than the final scoreline suggests.

After getting off to a sluggish start due partly to a number of players arriving late because of long delays on the M2, Deal gradually took control against their bottom-of-the-table opponents.

They opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Sam Wilson bagged his 12th goal of the season from Connor Coyne’s superb pass, and then doubled their lead just past the half hour mark with a tremendous strike from far out on the right wing by Andy Miller.

Deal then dominated the second half but were unable to find a third goal. Wilson went the closest when he struck the woodwork from a pass by Miller, but with the Hoops well organised in defence the home side rarely threatened until pulling a goal back in the dying minutes through Harvey Killick.