Two-goal Steve O’Brien led the way as the Hoops cruised into the third qualifying round of The Buildbase FA Vase at Aylesford on Saturday.

O’Brien scored twice in the second half as Deal built on their 2-1 interval lead against a K Sports side who, despite their lowly early-season league position, provided a genuine test for Derek Hares’ men.

The Hoops got off to a flying start, Sam Wilson heading them in front with just a minute on the clock but K Sports, promoted from the Southern Counties East League first division last season, equalised five minutes later through a Jason Perry penalty.

Deal then had to wait until six minutes before half-time before regaining the lead, Connor Coyne finishing off good work by Wilson and Ben Cardwell with his seventh goal in the last six matches.

The same three players were then all involved in Deal’s third goal eight minutes after the restart, with O’Brien this time providing the finishing touch, but the “Paper Boys” showed they still posed a threat with an 67th-minute effort which struck the Hoops’ woodwork.

O’Brien, however, sealed Deal’s passage into the next round from the penalty spot 10 minutes from time after Wilson had been fouled in the box, and Dan Adams and Coyne then both went close to providing some further “icing on the cake” in the dying minutes.

The sides will meet again at the Charles Ground in a rearranged league fixture next weekend and Hoops’ head coach Steve King “tweeted” after Saturday’s game: “Great performance from the boys to win away in the Vase. We didn’t have things all our own way and it will be another tough game next week but our front boys are on fire!”

Deal: Tonkin, Hark, O’Brien, Bigginton, K Smith, Scott, Foster (C Miller 48), Cardwell (Adams 70), Coyne, Wilson, Reeves (Butcher 77).