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Hythe Town manager Steve Watt admits making the Isthmian South East play-offs would be a big ask for the Cannons

06:00, 29 January 2020

Steve Watt has played down Hythe’s play-off chances even though the Cannons remain one of the form sides in Isthmian South East.

Saturday’s excellent 3-0 win at Haywards Heath lifted the Cannons up to 10th and they remain within striking distance of the play-off places.

Boss Watt admits breaking into the top five is not beyond Town’s capabilities but neither he nor his players are thinking too far ahead

Hythe's Jarred Trespaderne celebrates his goal in the 3-0 win against Haywards Heath on Saturday Picture: Eva Gilbert
Hythe's Jarred Trespaderne celebrates his goal in the 3-0 win against Haywards Heath on Saturday Picture: Eva Gilbert

Watt, whose team have won six of their last seven matches, explained: “It’s true things aren’t going too bad.

“I’m pleased with the performances and more than pleased with the results.

“We’re joint top of the form guide (with Ashford) and have only lost once in the last two months but I’m not even thinking about the play-offs.

“The club were second bottom when I took over so the players deserve a lot of credit but it would be a big, big ask to get into the play-offs.

“We’re just looking at it one game at a time. Several of the teams around us have games in hand.

“All we can do is worry about ourselves and see where it gets us.”

Hythe’s squad at Haywards Heath included new signings Tom Murphy – signed from Cray Wanderers – and former Gillingham midfielder Darren Oldaker, who has returned to Reachfields after a successful loan period there in 2017/18.

Striker Murphy, 28, marked his debut with the opening goal while 21-year-old Oldaker – who had been without a club since leaving Billericay last November – came on as a 70th minute substitute.

Watt revealed that both men were put in touch with him by players already at the club.

He explained: “Tom came a little bit out of the blue. He’d been in contact with (centre-half) Jamie Coyle (who had been his manager at Dartford) and once I’d been made aware there was a possibility he could become available I jumped at the chance to sign him.

“He’s a player I’ve always admired and I knew he could do a good job at this level.

“Darren is good mates with (goalkeeper) Will Godmon.

“He was on the back burner a few months back after he’d left Billericay but he wanted to pursue other things.

“I think he was at other clubs training or on trial but things never materialised.

“I think he maybe fell out of love with the game a little bit but he played here before and enjoyed it.”

Hythe have two testing fixtures in the next week, hosting sixth placed Herne Bay on Saturday before travelling to Sevenoaks, in eighth,on Tuesday.

Charlie Webster (groin), Alex Brown (broken toe) and Kaka Dembele and Stephen Okoh (both hamstring) will all need to be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Like Hythe, Bay are in good form and Watt said: “We’ve played them twice and won both times but that will count for nothing on Saturday.

“They’re having a great run and will probably be looking to get promotion with the squad they’ve got.

“We’ve got a big month coming up, by the end of it we’ll probably know what our fate is going to be.”

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