Clive Cook knows Hythe’s next four games represent a great chance to climb into the play-off spots for the first time this season.

Back-to-back derby wins over Folkestone and Ramsgate have lifted the Cannons to within five points of the Ryman League Division 1 South top-five.

And with three matches coming up against teams in the lower reaches of the table, Cook can sense an opportunity.

He said: "I didn’t want the Folkestone result to be a flash in the pan – big-game syndrome.

"Ramsgate was a big game, too. They’re a good side and Jim and Danny Ward have a set plan they stick to but I knew if we kept the momentum going, we could win the game.

"Every game is a big game. We can’t just raise our game against Folkestone and Ramsgate.

"Walton Casuals and Walton & Hersham, they’re the type of teams we’ve got to beat if we want to do anything. There’s no point beating the big teams and then ruining everything by dropping points against the sides you expect to beat.

"Walton Casuals, Dorking, Walton & Hersham and Peacehaven – on paper, that’s not a bad January. It could be a defining month for us.

"We’ve started January well but we’ve got to finish it. We’ve got to keep our momentum going."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.