Clive Cook expects some of Hythe Town’s promotion rivals to fall away by Christmas.

Cannons are eighth in Bostik South having won four of their last five games after starting the season with three straight defeats.

They’re just five points off top spot in a division which is too tight to call.

Cook said: “The whole league’s like that. From top to bottom, I don’t feel there’s any easy game. No team is cleaning up, running away with it.

“We know certain clubs which are up there always fall away at Christmas. They might not this year and I’m not naming them but they do it every year.

"They go away, win a load of games and then all of a sudden, come Christmas, bang, it all falls apart.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint and I’m happy to get us back there or thereabouts. We’ll keep working hard and see what happens.”

Hythe continued their good form with a 1-0 win over Ashford on Saturday and Cook felt the score flattered their rivals.

He said: “If it wasn’t for George Kamurasi, who was superb in goal for them, it could have been a lot more. He stopped four or five certain goals. He was outstanding.

“I was pleased to get three points and a clean sheet. It’s games like that which, when we started the season, we probably would have drawn 1-1.

"We’re starting to instil that into the squad now, that if you’re not going to win 5-0, win 1-0, keep the clean sheet and get the points.

“It’s been a little bit of a turnaround but I don’t want too speak too soon because we’ve got a tough few games coming up.

“When you do changes, it takes ages to embed it even though you have a
pre-season and you’re there a lot of the time training, you’re all there together for a long time.

“There’s nothing better than match practice and it’s starting to harden up a bit. I’m pleased with the way it’s going at the moment.”

Hythe go to third-placed South Park on Saturday.

“It’s always a tough game down there,” Cook said. “They’re physical, that’s the way they play and we’ve got to match that.”