"We have to roll up our sleeves and stop the rot."

That’s the message from Hythe Town boss Scott Porter as he reflects on three successive defeats in 2013 – the latest a 3-0 reverse at Thamesmead on Tuesday night which saw the holders knocked out of the Kent Senior Cup.

He added: "Mistakes cost us again. We have to get back to being difficult to beat. At the moment we are making it too easy and getting punished."

Hythe visit Tooting & Mitcham in Ryman League, Division 1 South on Saturday and Porter has moved quickly in an attempt to improve things, signing goalkeeper Dan Eason from Herne Bay. He planned to talk to Maidstone striker Shaun Welford yesterday (Wednesday) after lodging a seven-day approach last week.

American keeper Dean Ruddy left the club on Tuesday night and Eason will make his debut at Tooting. Porter said: "Dan is one of the best keepers in our league.

"We looked at him last year but couldn’t do anything as Herne Bay were going for the Kent League title."