Hythe Town’s players and supporters will be literally within touching distance of the FA Trophy this weekend as the Trophy itself visits Reachfields ahead of Steve Watt’s side face potentially the toughest test they could face at this early stage of the season…

Bet Victor South East leaders Hastings United are the Cannons’ opponents, but as Watt told us, it wasn’t for the first time this season.

“The club’s been dealt a difficult hand in Cup games this year,” he said. “In the FA Cup they drew Cray Wanderers – possibly the hardest tie of the round – and now likewise in the Trophy now in Hastings.”

“You need a bit of luck in Cup competitions if you’re going to have a good run in the Cup. It’s a difficult tie and obviously Hastings are flying at the minute, and it’ll be good for me to have a look at them against our side without the pressures of the League on the game.”

“Although we want to do well in the competition, it gives up a good opportunity for us to measure up against them to see where we are against the best team in the League.

One of the things that I addressed when I came in was the defence which needed a lot of work to do. We’ve got more experience there now in Jamie Coyle with some good young players around him.”

“We’ve a good blend now of youth and experience at the back and I always felt that we are a team who are going to create chances and if we could add a bit of quality here and there along the way – we’ve done that and I’m just happy that we’ve been able to pick up a couple of positive results quickly as well as positive performances as well which is pleasing.”

“Coylie even scored on his debut last week – he could have even had two – you could have called his signing an educated gamble if you like, but I didn’t see it as a gamble, anything but!”

“I know it’s been a couple of years since he played but I know he’s kept himself incredibly fit, and I knew he’d come in and have an effect not just with his goal, but with his organisation and leadership on the pitch – it really flows through the team and that’s something that I thought needed addressing in terms of experience in the side which is why we’ve brought Will Godman back to the club – he’s been around at this level for a while now and knows what’s required.”

“It’s great that the Trophy will be at the ground – it’s not actually something I’ve been close to before,” Watt admitted.

“We’ll all have a little look at it I’m sure – it would be great if we saw it again later in the season. It’s a long way away but it’s great for the club and great for the fans who will be able to come down and have their photos taken with the Trophy so it’ll be good and maybe something that can inspire the players to a good performance.”

We finished with the Hythe team news and the manager told us, “No one’s Cup tied – the new boys can all play. Maidstone have agreed to let Danny Devine play in both the Trophy and Kent Cup unless we play Maidstone. Other than that, we lost Charlie Webster on Tuesday with what looks like an ankle ligament problem. We’ve lost Steve Okoh as well for the weekend – he picked up a really bad cut on the back of his ankle on Tuesday which required some stitches which rules him out of the game.”