For Hythe Town boss Sam Denly the summer can’t come quick enough as last weekend’s 5-2 defeat at East Grinstead all but ended their diminishing Play Off hopes.
“Last Saturday was disappointing to say the least,” admitted the Hythe boss. “It’s a funny game, but still went in 3-2 down after conceding a couple if really soft goals which we’ve done far too often this season, and second half we just weren’t good enough – it was a performance that just wasn’t good enough on many levels and we got what we deserved out of the game ultimately – nothing!
“I’m a realist and I think it would take more than a miracle for us to make the Play Off’s now – I’m looking with one eye at next season; talking to players about staying for next year and talking to other lads who I want to bring in because over the course of the season the League table doesn’t lie and we’re ten points off the Play Off places because at this stage we don’t appear to be good enough and I don’t see that changing over the next four games where we have to win them and the teams above us have to lose them – that’s just not going to happen!”
Before Hythe can sign off they still have three of BOSTIK South East’s current top four to play with Hastings and Champions elect Cray Wanderers still to play after their local derby this weekend when Ashford visit Reachfields.
“Saturday will be a good test for us where we want to be and where I say that the Play Offs are out of reach,” Denly said,
“we’ll still be playing and scrapping for every point and playing for pride – the boys know that we’ve underachieved this year and we’ve still got four big games ahead starting with a very tough game with Ashford – Tommy’s done a hell of a job there since he’s gone in there.”
“They’re a good side who are going to be in the Play Offs and obviously have the ambition of wanting to go up – it’s going to be a good test for us. That should be us but it’s not – and that’s where want to be next. We’re going to go into the game looking to get a result as they’re the games that next year we’ve got to be performing in!”
“Quite often you see the side whose manager gets the monthly award not do very well, so who knows what’s going to happen on Saturday. He deserves the award too – loads of experience; he’s been round the block and has done great for Ashford.”
“Must admit that I’m looking forward to the game – they beat us on the opening day so we’ll be looking to try and put that right as well! We need to get wins – we want to finish the season well; our home form’s been good this year and it’s the away form that has let us down this season.”
Hythe’s team news wasn’t too bad as the manager told us, “Not sure about Chris Kinnear after he picked up a calf strain but apart from that we should be at full strength for what is our penultimate game of the season at home and so we want to get a win but Ashford of course have their own reasons to get the three points as well.”