by Steve Tervet

Scott Porter has vowed to use Hythe’s play-off defeat as motivation when his side go in search of promotion again next season.

Hythe travelled to Faversham for Tuesday night’s Ryman League, Division 1 South semi-final on the back of a 17-game unbeaten run.

But they were 3-0 down at half-time and the Lilywhites closed out the tie after the interval to leave Porter’s side wondering what might have been.

The Hythe boss said: "We don’t want to listen to them cheering and shouting in the showers and all their celebrations.

"I want that to be us. I said to (the players) ‘look at that, that’s hard to take’ and it’ll make them stronger without a doubt.

"Our goal at the start of the season was to get in the play-offs and we achieved that. But when you get in the play-offs, you want to win them, that’s the whole point.

"We want to go one better next year and I’ll do everything I possibly can to do that."

Hythe never looked like getting back into the semi-final after Faversham had scored three goals during a six-minute spell late in the first half.

"To do that in the biggest game of the season, it’s disappointing. It brings a sour note to a good season. We’ve been 17 unbeaten to get where we are but we fell short."