Hythe boss Scott Porter says three successive wins without conceding a goal is the ideal build-up for the new Ryman League, Division 1 South season.

The latest victory was a 1-0 success at Kent Invicta League champions Phoenix Sport on Tuesday night and came courtesy of skipper Dave Cook’s penalty two minutes before the break.

Porter said: “We have been looking good and playing some decent stuff. We’ve got the ball down and played from the back.

“We also have players who give us the option of being more direct when we have to and it’s nice to have a couple of things in our locker.”

Porter rested new signing Tom Hickman and defender Pat Kingwell in the game with both nursing knocks.

Midfielder Hickman played only 34 minutes in the 4-0 win against Ashford United on Saturday, before going off nursing a tweaked groin, while central defender Kingwell has a bruised foot.

He added: “I took Tom off as a precaution because it’s not worth taking any chances at this stage.”

Hythe round off their competitive pre-season build-up by hosting another Invicta League side Sutton Athletic on Saturday.