An 87th-minute Jack Harris goal ended Deal’s run of three successive wins on Saturday.
On a heavy pitch, the Hoops looked set to continue their recent good for when Ben Chapman gave them a 3-2 lead midway through the second half. But the home side then struck twice in the closing 11 minutes as Deal again found the Culverden Stadium an unhappy hunting ground.
They started well enough and created the best chances in the opening stages, only for Wells to snatch a 24th-minute lead through Drew Crush.
Deal responded positively and Sam Wilson twice went close before Deal equalised on 39 minutes when Andy Miller scored direct from a corner, and then just before half-time Wilson was on target with his 17th goal of the season.
The home sided needed only four minutes of the second half to draw level when a shot from Harris took a wicked deflection past James Tonkin, but again the Hoops hit back after 67 minutes when, following an excellent run and cross by substitute Euan Sahadow, Chapman grabbed his fourth goal in three games.
Deal now scented a rare victory at the Culverden Stadium but the home side had other ideas. They equalised on 79 minutes through Jon Pilbeam following an initial superb save by Tonkin, and then with time running out Harris grabbed the winner.
Deal: Tonkin, Paxman, Hark, Hill (Alexander 82), K Smith, Scott, A Miller, Foster (Sahadow 64), Coyne (Adams 82), Wilson, Chapman.