by Alex Hoad

Hythe Town manager Scott Porter says he will send his team out for their first pre-season friendly as if it were their opening Ryman League match.

Town travel to Essex to face Concord Rangers at the scene of perhaps their most famous victory – last season’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round win which secured a first round trip to Hereford – to begin their preparations for life following promotion to Ryman League, Division 1 South.

Porter (pictured) said: "We have been back for a few weeks and the lads are chomping at the bit.

"We have trained well and now we want to get back into it because the games are going to come thick and fast."

Porter also revealed his side will not be going through the motions against the Ryman League, Premier Division side, despite it being Hythe’s first run-out of the summer.

He said: "I don’t send my teams out to play a friendly. We’ll prepare for the match in same way as we would for any other match and while it is important in terms of getting minutes on the pitch, I want us to be competitive."