Now Hythe have put their ‘atrocious’ league run behind them Clive Cook hopes Town can enjoy the big occasion of a bumper FA Trophy tie against Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Town bounced back from their shock 4-0 defeat at Sittingbourne on Saturday when they visited Herne Bay on Tuesday night, recording a 2-0 win courtesy of first-half goals from Kenny Pogue and Sam Adams.

Sittingbourne was the fourth defeat in five and the Cannons had earned just one point since the end of their nine-game winning streak in Ryman League, Division 1 South leaving boss Cook to admit: “It’s been a poor run – atrocious, really.

“What I keep coming back to though is that we have had this poor run and we’re still in the play-offs.

“It’s not been good enough, I take it personally, too. I took two days to get over Saturday’s defeat. I have been like a bear with a sore head.”

Cook admitted: “I didn’t see it coming. Not after the Tuesday when we were so good (in the FA Trophy win at Merstham). They had a gameplan and executed it well but we were awful, just awful on Saturday.

“They were good, a lot better than us, we knew they were decent at home but they dominated for 90 minutes and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say the better team won.”

Now they are back on the winning trail and after their first league clean sheet in six at Winch’s Field, Cook can now look forward to Saturday’s Trophy third qualifying round tie at home to National League South side Bishop’s Stortford (3pm).

He said: “We’re looking forward to it. They’re on a bit of a bad run but they are still a Conference South team, established at that level. We’d have to be at our absolute best to get anything.

“It’s a no pressure game for us. We can go out and enjoy it. The pressure is all on them.”